Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-05-17
BEHIND
The News
-ByPauI
Mallon

NV ASHlNGTON, M ay II
w What is being presented as
the great mystery OF FIR. Orle-
manski is not much of mystery
10 any one who has followed the
sequence and nature of his trip
TO Moscow 10 see Stain.
The initiative which made the
trip possible came from Stain.
The priest may have asked, but
the Russians provided transpor-
tation and furnished the -neces-
sary diplomatic pressure for a
passport.
Furthermore. the Springfield
Polish priest was preceded by
another American who failed 10
make the headlines or even be
mentioned, but whose identity
and purpose are no particular
mystery-Oscar Lange, the Chi
cago University professor. and
like Orlemanksi an opponent
of the London Polish govern
ment.
LANCE remained behind in
Russia TO inspect two Polish
regiments now fighting with the
Reds, and some effort was made
in the publicity 10 disassociate
him from political activities.
QUT the natural, almost OBJ
- Vious purpose of such an
American civilian duet, travelling
under auspices of Stain, would
be to counterfeit the political
influnece of the other Polish
faction in the United States adj
vocating the Polish emigre gov
eminent in London. 1t was
smart Russian diplomatic trick.
Indeed. the official publicity
from Moscow since the visit
conclusively confirms this i'm
preston. The Communist party
organ, ,Pravda, gave a full col
umn to Orlemanski, May IA,
along the line that he was up
setting "the propaganda activi-
ties" of the emigre government
which broke up relations with
Stain more than a year ago.
and favors a Poland free OF
Russia.
The facts are that plain and
simple. Who could better serve
Stains purposes than Catho-
lie priest who seems TO be about
the only one on that side of the
fence?
In fact, even though Orlemsn-
ski has been sent to monas--
terry and cannot deliver much of
the expected propaganda, the
incident has inspired the leftist
Polish elements TO try TO make
a cause celebre of the matter.
and thus bring pressure on Vati-
can diplomacy concerning the
Polish question,
COME confusing question has
~ been raised as to why the
state department gave a pass
port, but as the Russians
requested and approved the
journey, it would have been ir-
regular to decline, although this
governments diplomacy suf- +,
fered as much adverse pressure
from the incident as the Vati-
can. Indeed, Orlemanskis mis-
sion Likewise reflects opposition
10 the joint American-British
policy on Poland 10 precisely the
the same extent.
The real confusion comes only
from the political arguments on
both sides. For instance, Pravda
regards Orlemanski as repre-
senting "the freedom and indie
pendence of Poland" This is
careless use of those words. APP
parently signifying Poland
under Russian influence.
The other group uses the
same words to signify Poland
under itheirjinfluence.
-
IN THIS country. there are
i opposite factions from nearly
every. small; country in Europe.
not only Poland, but Rurnanis,
France, Italy and others, all
trying TO pull us this way or
that. with legitimate argument,
clever tricks, propaganda and
what not.
From any standpoint except
the Russian. Orlemanski's trip
itself was ridiculous. In the
first place, there is a law
against it. An old act of Con-
gress prevents any citizen deal
ing with a foreign power.
Stain my not have known
Of this law, but he knew that a
Springfield Polish priest would
have no authority from any one
10 deal with him, whether from
this government, the Vatican. or
even the citizens of Springfield.
The priest could have had
propaganda value only.
Thus, while the mission may
have sounded offhand like an
energetic effort of a religious
pastor 10 try TO do some good
IN complex situation. il will
be difficult for any one except
the priest himself TO interpret
u that way automatically.
Distributed by King Features synd Inc.