Statement by Professor Oscar Lange

STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR OSCAR LANGE

The following statement, by the American professor Oscar Lange, at present in Moscow, was made to a TASS representative on 21 May, 1944:

“I have arrived on the invitation of the Union of Polish Patriots to visit the Polish Army in the U.S.S.R. and to study the situation of Poles in this country. I am acting as a private American citizen and represent nobody but myself. My study consisted of personal interviews with Polish leaders in the U.S.S.R., visits to the Army, to Polish schools and children's homes. I also called on Marshal Stalin and Mr. Molotov.

During my visit to the Army I had more than 15 unofficial meetings with soldiers. I discussed with the soldiers their ideas concerning the future of Poland. These talks gave me material which I will use on my return to the United States.

During my visit to Marshal Stalin I spoke about my impressions of the Polish Army and about the situation of Poles in the U.S.S.R. Marshal Stalin said that Poland would play a very important part in Europe. He stated that it was in the interests of the Soviet Union that Poland should be strong.

I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Molotov for his hospitality during my stay in the U.S.S.R., to my old friend Wanda Wassilewska for the cordial  reception accorded to me by her and by the Union of Polish Patriots, and also to General Berling for his hospitality during my visit to the Polish Army in the U.S.S.R. I thank the officers, soldiers and women auxiliaries of the Polish Army for their cordial reception. I wish them success in bade and speedy victory over the common enemy of the United States, the Soviet Union and Poland.” (TASS.)