The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-23
BY PAUL ROSS ,. NEA Service Staff Writer

The Ukrainian peasant is a true individualist. He sets his house in his own way on his land-preferabl on hill-has an orchard, grows crops and domestic animals on his fertile black acres
 There is only one thing which the Ukrainian peasant acknowledges as qualification to own the all-import- ant land-working on and for 1t. Once he has it, he regards himself as complete master of it. Although for three centuries peasants in Great Russia were limited in their right to dispose of land, Ukrainian peasants lived in a privately y-owned homestead which they disposed of as they saw fit. And Communist Russia found it had caught Tartar when it decreed collectivisation of Ukrainian farms.
 To the casual onlooker the Ukrainian peasant may appear stolid. But underneath he is a deep observer and life and his observa- tions break out in pithy humor typical peasant characterization: "Oh, mother, how people praise us," says the conceited girl. What peo- ple?" answers the mother. Well, you praise me hand I praise you" responds the girl.
 Though the Ukrainan peasant is an individualist, he long ago learn ed to cooperate. Today, he sets up hi1 cooperatives to market his goods, buy his wares, handle his money.
 And, though he lives close to the land, he is forever fired by the old dream of a united Ukraine. He has heard countless times and in num- burless ways of how Ukraine was once a flourishing nation with its own commerce, industries, agricul- tJre and arts.
 He knows how the country was overrln many times by ASiatics un- til it lost its strength fighting them and was conquered by Poland. How the Cossacks came along as knights errant to defend the people, how they set up free government, how the Ukraine was again conquered by Russia. How the Czars tried to destroy all Ukrainian culture and identity how the people struggled by devious ways to preserve it, how finally after the World War, a united Ukraine was proclaimed, only to fall once more. He has a great longing to see his beloved, severed country made whole again.
 To do this, Ukrainian nationaliSts are busily engaged everywhere on earth. Abroad. they publish an ex- tensive press, they organize emigre Ukrainians. they agitate for free dom.
 But in Rumania, Poland and Soviet Russia-the three countries which among them now divide the Ukrainine "nation"-they are work ing in different ways.
 V. S. Dushnyck, editor of a Ukrainian national publication, told the writer of how in Soviet Russia the Ukrainian nationalists have organized a secret army among peasants, young people and men who got their training n the Red Army. When the time comes they will rise against the Soviet.
 In Poland and Rumania they are also organized. put more or less openly. As sports bodies, as cultural groups. even as coooperatives they are preparing for "the day" and keeping alive the national spirit.
 These nationalists make no bones about it. If it is necessary to help destroy the governments under which they live in order to build a unted Ukraine, the Ukrainians will do it.
 So, today, Ukrainian nationalism lies like a moth cocoon in the national fabrics of three countries. Should war come the thing inside will come to life. Ukrainians think it will prove to be united and beautiful Ukraine. Russia, Poland, and Rumania are afraid of what it could be.