Poland and the Peasants For some months negotiations have been
in progress in Poland to secure greater support for the Government bloc, especially from the Peasants Party which represents Poland's agricultural masses. The same reason which inspired the negotiations gives them considerable international import- ance ; in her precarious geographical position Poland requires the greatest possible degree of internal unity if she is to play a valuable part in European politics. Placed between Germany and the Soviet Union, and the potential leader of an Eastern European bloc, she cannot afford the luxury of severe internal dissensions or the existence of a hostile and discontented peasantry. In the last week a genuine advance has been made ; President Moscicki is reported to have assured the representatives of the Peasants Party that there is no longer any serious obstacle to the return of M. Witos, its exiled leader. Since 1930, when he was sen- tenced to two years' imprisonment and left the country, the return of M. Wits has been the peasants' fundamental demand. If the Government can now grant it, on terms M. Witos can accept, Poland will have taken an important step to achieving genuine national unity, and her politics will be revitalised by the presence of a vigorous and sagacious political leader.
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