Conflicts in Poland The national assembly of Pilsudski's legionaries in
Cracow on Sunday has, after the recent attempt on the life of Colonel Koc, again emphasised the political dissensions which are agitating Poland. From this great national assembly many of Pilsudski's most prominent followers absented them- selves, as a protest against the methods of Marshal Smigly- Rydz and Colonel Koc, who is Commander of the Union of Legionaries and organiser of the new movement for national consolidation. The legionaries have been offended both by Marshal Smigly-Rydz' slightly liberal tendencies and by the " insult " offered by the Archbishop of Cracow to Pilsudski's memory in moving his coffin from one part of the Wavel to another. Two years after Pilsudski's death, many fissures have appeared in his system ; it is tempting to attribute this to a " lack of personality " in Marshal Smigly-Rydz. Indeed he has not Marshal Pilsudski's heroic stature or heroic past, though he is his chosen successor ; it is probably more important that his liberal leanings are a danger to the dominating position secured by Pilsudski's followers after the electoral " reform " of 1935. But he has two strong cards to play ; he is assured of the support of the army and he can, if he wishes, give a broader basis to his regime by enfranchising the workers and the peasants.
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