Wish, Hope & Fear

Politely and clearly the Kremlin told Cordell Hull to keep hands off the Soviet Union's dispute with the Polish Government in Exile. Conditions had not ripened enough for U.S. participation, Moscow added, carefully leaving the door ajar.

On the same day, Anthony Eden told the House of Commons that Britain does not recognize any territorial changes which have taken place in Poland since the war began, does not intend to recognize any unless they are accomplished with the free consent of the parties concerned. In effect, Eden once more underwrote the difficult position of the Polish Government in Exile (TIME, Jan. 24).

Through a haze of charges, wishes, hopes and fears, a probability began to emerge. If events continue on their present course, the Poles in London may be too slow in bowing to broad Russian hints that they reorganize their Government, purge it of outspokenly anti-Russian influences. The British may find it impossible to chivvy their Polish allies into a change. The Russians may seek contact with whatever Polish elements the Red Army uncovers as it moves into Poland proper, proclaim these elements as the true Polish Government with or without the inclusion of the Communist Union of Polish Patriots in Moscow.

Such an outcome would leave the London Poles high and dry.

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