Poland continues her efforts to achieve " national unity "
under an authoritarian regime opposed by the great majority of the population ; no doubt the Government is so persistent because Poland, like other Eastern European States, needs the highest degree of internal stability in order to face dangers from abroad. According to M. Kwiatkowski, the Vice- President, whose recent appeal to the Opposition has had greater success than those of any other official spokesmen, the Government will be forced to " crack the totalitarian whip " if its efforts fail. Threats are not a good instrument for creating " unity," but the Government has also taken more promising steps. This week President Moscidci has nominated to a vacant seat in the Senate Professor Bartel, generally regarded as a Liberal, who was Prime Minister under Marshal Pilsudski. His appointment is strongly approved by the Opposition, which regards it as a step towards the possible liberalisation of the regime hinted at by M..Kwiatkowski. Unfortunately, that appears to be as far as the Government will or can go. In itself it falls far short of the genuine liberalisation demanded by the Opposi- tion. On the other hand, to proceed further on the same course would probably necessitate the removal from office of the present ruling clique, whose " patriotism " will not go so far as to involve surrender of their hold upon the Government.
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