Poland and the Present War

POLAND AND THE PRESENT WAR OLGERD P. DE SHERBOWITZ-WETZOR I EVEN in time of peace it is not easy to discuss and analyse the conflicting problems arising between States and national groups, with an abstract and dispassionate aloofness. In time of war it becomes still more difficul,t. One may keep to a neutral attitude* as far as one's actions are concerned, but a human soul can hardly remain in cool detachment when vital issues are at stake. As the President of the United States has expressed it in his neutrality announcement of September 4, "even a neutral has a right to take account of facts. Even a neutral cannot he asked to close his mind and conscience." Indeed, such an absolute "neutrality in thought" would be the manifestation of a totally heartless indifference, particularly in our days when the political events of which we are all witnesses deploy before our bewildered eyes such an unfathomable depth of cold cynicism, base political lust and cruel hypocrisy. The ominous words of Lord Grey on the eve of the Great War, ClThe lamps are going ou-t all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime," have proved a tragic prophecy, and they seem even more true today than twenty-five years ago when they were uttered. It seems that the peace brought about by the victory of the Allied powers in 1919 was nothing but a respite, a temporary armistice, and warfare having ceased on the battlefields, the struggle continued within the social and political organization of the world, ever increasing in intensity and scope. As a result we have lived through twenty years of tension and unrest that have undermined the very foundations of our civilization . The principles which for generations have guided our thoughts and conduct are challenged and assaulted. Even the precepts of Christianity, which for almost twenty centuries have inspired mankind in the divine principles of love, justice, and mercy, have been dragged to the level of political slogans, and for a considerable part of the world's population have ceased to be a *The author writes as a naturalized American citizen. [EDITORS' NOTE] 50 POLAND AND THE PRESENT WAR OLGERD P. DE SHERBOWITZ-WETZOR I EVEN in time of peace it is not easy to discuss and analyse the conflicting problems arising between States and national groups, with an abstract and dispassionate aloofness. In time of war it becomes still more difficul,t. One may keep to a neutral attitude* as far as one's actions are concerned, but a human soul can hardly remain in cool detachment when vital issues are at stake. As the President of the United States has expressed it in his neutrality announcement of September 4, "even a neutral has a right to take account of facts. Even a neutral cannot he asked to close his mind and conscience." Indeed, such an absolute "neutrality in thought" would be the manifestation of a totally heartless indifference, particularly in our days when the political events of which we are all witnesses deploy before our bewildered eyes such an unfathomable depth of cold cynicism, base political lust and cruel hypocrisy. The ominous words of Lord Grey on the eve of the Great War, ClThe lamps are going ou-t all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime," have proved a tragic prophecy, and they seem even more true today than twenty-five years ago when they were uttered. It seems that the peace brought about by the victory of the Allied powers in 1919 was nothing but a respite, a temporary armistice, and warfare having ceased on the battlefields, the struggle continued within the social and political organization of the world, ever increasing in intensity and scope. As a result we have lived through twenty years of tension and unrest that have undermined the very foundations of our civilization . The principles which for generations have guided our thoughts and conduct are challenged and assaulted. Even the precepts of Christianity, which for almost twenty centuries have inspired mankind in the divine principles of love, justice, and mercy, have been dragged to the level of...