Evening star., 1947-11-03
Polish Leader Says
Death Sentence Was
Planned for Him
By the ksSocioted Press

LONDON, NOV. 3.-StanlSlaW
Mikolajczyk said tonight he fled
Poland through the Russian zone
of Germany to the British area
after learning that the Moscow
sponsored Polish government
planned to sentence him and at
least two other Polish Peasant
Party officials to death.
The Polish opposition leader early
this afternoon reached the promised
sanctuary of Great Britain in an
Raj plane, two weeks after drop
ping from sight in Poland.
Il got the news on the day OF
the opening of Parliament that
immunity would be taken away
from me- Mr.. Mikolajczyk told an
interviewer at his wife's home in
suburban Londan.
Knew of Court Plans.
"I knew also they had made plans
IN advance with military court to
sentence us to death
The stocky, 46-year-old Polish
Peasant Party leader, who headed
the Polish government in exile here
during the occupation, kissed his
wife's hand after walking into her
house. She had remained in Britain
since the war.
After 1 got the news they were
going to arrest us I made a decision
to go away because, after all. they
would sentence us to death and our
people would try to avenge us and
cause unnecessary bloodshed," Mr..
Mikolajczy said
Mr.. Mikolajczyk refused to say
whether he planned to form an anti
Soviet bloc outside of Poland or
whether he intends to remain in
Britain or go to the United States.
He said that he had been out OF
touch with the news and had no
immediate plans for the future.
He landed from Germany at
Mansion, an Raj airport in Kent.
Mr.. Mikola jczyk said he left Po-
land on October 20. Crossing the
countrys western frontier and the
Soviet zone of Germany, and went
on to the British zone of Germany.
He declined to disclose the point
where he found safety there,
II first felt safe last Saturday." :"
the day of his arrival in the British
zone, he said.
Silent About Associates.
He said the British had known of
his whereabouts since his arrival in
their zone
Asked if other associates were safe
he replied, No comment"
Earlier, Christopher Mayhew,
Undersecretary Of State for Foreign
Affairs. had told cheering House of
Commons that Mr.. Mikola jcZyk had
arrived in England. He gave no de-
tails. A short time later the Foreign
Office and Foreign Ministry said an
RAF plane had brought the Polish
leader to Britain. Apparently the
plane was assigned under top secret
orders.
A Polish Foreign Ministry spokes-
man announced in Warsaw today
that special Polish parliamentary
commission was investigating the
circumstances surrounding Mr. Mi
kolajczyk's fight.
The British Press Association said
1t was understood that Mr.. Miko
laiczyk landed in Britain at 1890
pm. T::30 am. EST.
Party Remodeled.
Since his flight the Polish Peasant
Party in Poland has been remodeled
along lines favorable to the Com
munist-led government Informants
in Warsaw have declared that Mr..
Mikolaj jczyk's departure meant the
end to organized political opposition
to the present Polish regime.
Mr.. Mayhews disclosure came in
response to a question from Capt.
Raymond Blackburn. Laborite,
who sought information as TO
whether any application had been
received from the Polish opposition
leader for asylum in Britain Mr..
Mayhem said:
Il have been informed that Mr.
Mikolajczyk arrived in this country
today and was given leave to land"
AS the cheers subsided Capt
Blackburn commented that the news
would be received with great relief
and then inquired about details of
the Peasant Party leaders trip Mr..
Mayhem responded that he could
furnish no further details.
Arrival Had Been Expected.
Only three hours before the an
nouncement the British Foreign Of
fees press section disclaimed all
knowledge of Mr. Mikolajczyks
whereabouts.
But perhaps by coincidence, per-
See M1KOLAJCzYK. Page A-3)