Speech #840035985

This newspaper. which serves the interests of Americans of Polish descent. goes on record as issuing a warning that certain provisions of the treaty will endanger the lives of many thousands of Polish people now living behind the Iron Curtain. Most certainly. with this in mind. the Austrian Treaty bears closer scrutiny before this country goes on record as approving it. The editorial follows: CHALLENGE TO POLONIALrr Us SAVE POLISH REFUGEES IN AusTRIA FROM SovIrr SLAVERY The Austrian Treaty which the Soviets and the Austrian Government just agreed to signpending the consent of the American. British. and French Governmentsmay well result in a great tragedy for about 3.000 Polish refugees in Austria. For some strange reason. the American press did not publish the text of the Austrian Treaty. However. Julius Epstein. of the Katyn investigation fame. secured a copy of the treaty and discovered that it contains great danger to Polish and other refugees from behind the Iron Curtain. numbering about 30.000. Article 16 of the Austrian Treaty provides: "Austria undertakes * * * to take all necessary measures to complete the voluntary repatriation of displaced persons within its territory * * * to permit the accredited representatives of any Allied or Associated Power [Communist government of Poland is an Allied and Associated Power] to visit freely such camps or centers for the purpose of conferring with its nationals * * * to prohibit in such camps or centers any propaganda hostile to the interests of the Allied and Associated Powers and any activities designed to induce such displaced persons not to return to the countries of which they are nationals * * * to dissolve immediately any committee. center. and other similar organizations existing in those camps and assembly centers that may be found to be engaged in activities opposed to the interests of the Allied and Associated Powers." Moreover. paragraph 5 of article 16 provides: "No relief shall be given by Austria to persons who refuse to return to their native countries * * * [who] are engaged in hostile activities against their countries of origin * * * or are members of organizations and groups which encourage displaced persons not to return to their countries of origin." Insofar as 3.000 Polish refugees in Austria are concerned. none of whom. of course. A2896 wants to be repatriated to the Communistruled Poland. the abovequoted excerpts from article 16 mean that they will be completely at the mercy of the Communists and will have only a choice to surrender to the Reds and become their slaves or face death for lack of relief. Strange as it may seem. the American Government which fought against article 16 for about 8 years. suddenly accepted it on February 13. 1954. at the Berlin conference. it was revealed by Mr.