File No. 860c.01/62
The Representative of the Polish National Committee ( Paderewski ) to President Wilson
Mr. President: The Polish National Department of Chicago has conferred upon me the great honor of addressing you at this momentous [Page 763] hour. The National Department is a federation of all important Polish organizations in the United States, including Polish National Alliance, 130,000 members; Polish Roman Catholic Union, 115,000 members; Polish National Council, over 200,000 members; Association of Polish Clergy in America, 800 members; Polish Falcons Alliance, 25,000 members; Polish Women’s Alliance, 25,000 members; Polish Alma Mater, 8,000 members; Association of Poles in America, 8,000; Polish Brotherhood of St. Joseph, 8,000 members; Polish Union of Buffalo, 15,000 members; Polish Union of Wilkes-Barre, 20,000 members; Alliance of Poles in America, Cleveland, 8,000 members’; Polish Uniformed Society, 5,000 members; Alliance of Polish Singers, 3,000 members; representing an overwhelming majority, approximately 90 per cent of Polish people living in this country.
A great many of these people are loyal citizens of the United States. Led by a profound sense of gratitude and devotion to their adopted country, stirred by unbounded affection for your exalted person, they are fulfilling the duties imposed upon them by the solemnity of circumstances in a way surpassed by none. Still many others, thousands of whom have joined the colors, are residents only, residents contributing efficiently by their honest labor to the development and increase of American prosperity.
They are hard-working people. Out of over four millions of them not one is a millionaire. But every one is willing to take his humble share in the glorious work of Poland’s reestablishment so magnanimously proclaimed by you, Mr. President, in your immortal message of January 27.
The situation in Poland is more critical than ever. Not only did the suffering of the population reach a degree of almost unbearable intensity, but there is also a menace, a continuously growing and immediate menace of a large Polish army being formed by Central powers against the Allies, for there are still in the vast occupied territory over a million men available for military service. Besides, the country has had no government of its own, no directing political organization, no representatives recognized by foreign powers. In consequence, various not precisely disinterested individuals have been swarming Allied countries, misinforming authorities, misleading public opinion, misrepresenting Poland. Realizing political and strategic necessity of checking the designs of our common enemy, the French Government resolved to form a national Polish army on the western front and we have been informed that the United States Government would make no objections to recruiting of Polish volunteers in this country. Furthermore, both British and French Governments in order to put an end to the nefarious pro-German intrigue agreed to recognize the Polish National Committee recently formed in Paris as official experts on Polish questions and unofficial [Page 764] representatives of the Polish nation provided that the United States Government would recognize it as well. The Polish National Committee, headed by Poland’s ablest and strongest statesman, Roman Dmowski, has already received assurances of loyal support and cooperation of an immense majority of Polish people wherever living. The Poles from America sent to the Polish National Committee the following message:
Conscious of the importance of our act and the solemnity of the occasion, we have this day unanimously agreed to unite with the National Polish Committee in Paris. We welcome with joy our representation on this committee in the person of Ignace Jan Paderewski. We pledge our loyal cooperation and acknowledge the political supremacy of your committee. At the same time we desire to express our conviction that your committee should embrace representatives of as many Polish political parties as possible, in order to strengthen its authority. We further believe that the collective assurance from the Allied Governments that a united independent Poland with access to the sea as one of the objects of the war is essential to the success of the committee’s activities. With assurance of loyalty and fraternal greeting. National Polish Department.
Mr. President, the issue of this gigantic struggle between light and darkness, between right and brutal power depends on you. The fate of peoples and governments is in your hands. The wealth and might of this huge Republic made you the principal leader of consolidated human efforts; the greatness and generosity of your character made you the supreme commander of God’s forces. You are the foster-father of a chiefless land. You are Poland’s inspired protector. For many a month the spelling of your name has been the only comfort and joy of a starving nation. For many a month among the ruins of a devastated country millions of people have been feeding on you.
Now on the 14th of October the bells of Polish churches, of those still remaining, will call upon the faithful to join in fervent prayer in memory of the noble hero departed a hundred years ago, Thaddeus Kosciuszko. If on that day the news could reach the country that the Polish National Committee in Paris has been recognized, the Polish national army has been sanctioned by our beloved President Wilson, this would certainly give new strength, new hope and new courage to the stricken nation which trusts but God and you.
This is the object my people entrusted me to most respectfully lay before you, together with their unanimous offering of veneration and everlasting gratitude.
I beg to remain [etc.]