Evening star., 1944-05-16
Wide Gulf Is Seen
Between Russia, u. S.
Polish Priests Mission Held
Only One of Factors Involved
By Dapid Laurence

ny bGpIU Laurence
Relations with Russia have not been
particularly improved lates. This Is
not just because an American priest
of Polish extraction who conferred with
Marshal Stain has come back to find
his colleagues In the Catholic church
critical of his mission. 1t is primarily
because there is wide gulf between
the Soviet government and the United
States Government which in the in
terest of harmony and unity among
allies it has been thought desirable
to camoufiage
The truth of the matter Is that, de-
spite the splendid efforts of such able
diplomats as Averell Hartman and
others who have gone to Moscow to
develop a better understanding between
Russia and the United States, there
are nevertheless troublesome factors
which tend to keep the two nations
apart.
1t Is, for example, q matter of realis-
TIC fact that the Catholic church and
the Russian government have not come
10 an understanding. The brief ex-
preston of opinion which Stain wrote
IN message made public through the
Rev. Stanislaus Orlemanski is not in
Itself persuasive. The Vatican has a
large diplomatic corps and so has the
Russian government. If the Holy See
mad anything to say to the Soviet gov
ernment, or vice versa, London is a
central place where there is plenty of
opportunity for conversation and I'M
derstanding.
The important fact Is that an insti-
tuition as prominent in world affairs az
the Catholic church has not been able
to reach an understanding as yet with
the Soviet government on religious
freedom. While many Americans do
not understand the position of the Holy
See In world affairs and think of it per-
maps as something outside of American
diplomacy itself, nevertheless 1t Is q fact
that freedom of worship has always
been a cardinal point In the "four
freedoms" As long as there is a lack
OF understanding between the Catholic
church and the Soviet government.
there will be many in America who
will question the validity of the "four
freedoms" as slogan or set of war aims
The mission of the Springfield priest,
who has been active in Polish-Ameri
affairs, undoubtedly was related TO a
desire to establish some kind of an
understanding on behalf of the Poles.
and there is no doubt that the Soviet
government is conscious of the vast
number of Poles in the United States,
many OF them of American birth but
Pollsh parentage, who have q deep
interest in the solution Of the Polish
problem. While the United States
Government has never been influenced
to take any direct action in diplomacy
by reason of minority groups, there has
been tendency throughout the last
few decades to bring tactfully to the
attention of foreign governments the
existence of large minority groups in
the United States who have q sympathy
with their former countrymen.
Thus, there is no doubt that the Irish
American groups inside the United
States played large part in influencing
British policy During the last war
President Wilson had different con-
versations of informal, unofncial char
acter with representatives OF the Brit
ish government in the hope that the
Irish problem might be resolved in
whole or in part. The same precedent
undoubtedly is being followed In order
that the American Government may
use its influence to secure from Russia
tolerant attitude toward the estab-
hshment of Polish state which would
be truly independent.
Sooner or later there must be q frank
discussion of Soviet affairs and an at
tempt to bring the Russian people closer
to the American people. Many observ-
ers have felt that all these questions
could be left until the war is over, but it
is doubtful whether as much influence
can be exerted once hostilities are over
and lease-lend aid is ended as can
be exerted today when the exigencies of
war require the closest kind of CO.
operation.
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