A LOST LEADER
Stn,—For months it has steadily become clearer what a tragic loss Poland sustained through the death of General Sikorski in July, 1943. Today, in view of the Yalta decisions, the gravity of that loss is peculiarly evident. /Tad Sikorski lived we should probably have escaped the recent change of Government in London, which in the circumstances was undesirable. More than any of his countrymen, he stood above party. Further, he was a soldier of distinction as well as a citizen, and in war-time it is the soldier who counts. All this can be said without in any way detracting from the integrity or the merits of his successors in office. It was Sikorski who launched the plan for reconciliation and collabora- tion with the U.S.S.R. when that Power was wantonly attacked in June, 1941, by the Germans, just as Poland had been two years earlier. To this policy his successor, M. Mikolajczyk, remained committed until he laid down office in December ; and even she present Premier desires
nothing so much as an understanding with Moscow. In the new situation arising since Yalta two questions arise, the answers to which are not easy: i. Would Sikorski, if he were alive, go to "Lublin"? 2. Would the " Lublin " people accept him if he went?
No one can see how a high-minded patriot like Sikorski could have any association with, to say nothing of taking office under, certain of the individuals who compose that body. I could, but will not, particularise further. Would the "Lublin" people accept him as a colleague? If they did, every man of them would know that, by comparison with their own "peering littlenesses," he would stand out as a master and perhaps threaten all they have been standing for. What would happen then no one can foresee.
Tertium datur. One might well hold that it does not really matter whether men go from London to join the proposed Previsional Govern- ment or not. Not they, but the leaders of the Underground defence against the Germans, the men and women who have been on the spot during five bitter years—these are the people who should now get a hearing. It will be the acid test of the Yalta proposals if they get it, and it will be the first evidence of a coming breakdown if they do not. To this, one may be sure, Sikorski would have agreed.—Yours, &c.,
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