Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-04-29
Priest Talks 10 Stain,
Plans Drive in u. ).
For Soviet-PoIish Tie
By the Associated Press.

MOSCOW, April 29.-The Rev
Stanislaus Orlemanski, gray-haired
Polish American priest, had an I'M
precedented conference with Pre-
nier Stain yesterday. He declared
To-Day the results were excellent"
and announced plan to campaign
for democratic Poland friendly to
the Soviet Union.
Father Orlemanski, pastor of the
Holy Rosary Church of Springfield,
Mass, said that after a brief trip to
the Polish Army in Russia he
would return Immediately to the
United States, for the campaign, the
details of which he refused to dis
close.
Some Polish Leaders Protest.
Evidently he intends to work
among Poles in America and at
tempt to gain their support.
tSome Polish-American lead
ers in the United States have
protested against Father Orle-
manskis visit to Moscow. He is
the first Catholic priest to go
there from the United States
since 1934)
His meeting with Marshal Stain
was announced on the front pages of
today's Moscow newspapers under a
tWo-column headline, together with
two official photographs covering
the entire bottom of the page.
Sitting coatless in a room of the
National Hotel, opposite the Krem-
lin, Father Orlemanski said:
II am here as a private American
citizen and am no official repre-
sentative"
The American priest declared the
State Department gave him per-
mission to make the trip as a pri-
vate citizen of no official standing.
ct was explained at the State
Department today that Father
Orlemanski was able to visit Rus
STA as an American citizen be-
cause he was invited by the
Russian government)
Molotov Also Present.
Foreign Commissioner Molotov
also was present at the interview
with Premier Stain. Father Or
lemanski received original prints of
the official photographs of himself
with the two Russian leaders, and
commented:
This will make a rumpus in
America, eh?"
The press coverage of his visit
was the same accorded to visits of
the most prominent world leaders.
Father Orlemanski had not con-
tacted United States Ambassador
w. Averell Hartman, but called on
Maxwell Hamilton, United States
Minister in Moscow
He appeared puzzled by the extent
of the publicity he had received,
which he had expected to avoid I'M
til his return home. He learned
from the Kremlin itself that news
of his visit had already appeared
in the United States.
Stain Favors Gree Poland"
Premier Stain has favored free,
independent, democratic Poland"
an aim which it is assumed he re-
iterated in his interview with the
priest.
Father Orlemanski explained that
he was the organizer and honorary
president of the Kosciuszko League.
established in Detroit, Mich, last
November. He said he had travelled
in Canada Ito get first-hand infor-
nation on Poland" and treatment
there of Polish immigrants from
Poles already domiciled in Canada.
He said he became "the only
Roman Catholic priest in America
who supported move for friendship
between Russia and Poland and a
real democratic government for Po-
land, by the people and for the
people"
He indicated he did not consider
the past or present Polish govern
ments democratic.
when the people here" he said,
meaning the Russians, organized
the first Polish division they named
1t the Kosciuszko division. Kos
ciuszko being an American patriot,
I thought it proper for me as an
American citizen of Polish descent
to support this move.
"Kosciuszko is our American hero
and bringing Kosciuszko to Poland
means American democracy" he
said.
First Trip in Plane.
He said his Journey here was "the
first trip of my life in a plane" He
arrived here Tuesday and met For
eign Minister Molotov the next day.
Friday night he was called out of
theater to talk to Premier Stain
and Molotov. Previously he had
visited a Soviet home for Polish
children at Zagorsk, near Moscow,
where $50 orphans are sheltered.
The Polish people should really
be thankful. They get everything
for nothing" he said.
A special train was arranged to
take Father Orlemanski TODAY to
visit the Polish army in the Soviet
Union.
He indicated he would do some
speaking and writing in America.
1t is unusual for Premier Stain to
receive any private citizen. 1t is also
unusual for him to meet a clergy
man, although he previously had
received a delegation of the Russian
orthodox church.