-2-  
                                                            
 
from Russian territory, our civilian population would be deprived of
all pastoral care, I drew up a plan to provide, apart from my military
jurisdiction, for the organized pastoral care of our Polish civilian
population by 107 priests in the various sections of Russia, where our
Catholic people are no scattered.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
This program of pastoral care was presented by the Polish Ambassador
Kot to the Russian Commissary Wyszynski (Foreign Office) but was
recieved by him with bad grace.  Thus far we have received no answer.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
When the decision was made to evacuate our armed forces from Russia, we
requested the Soviet authorities to allow at least 20 chaplains to
remain behind to minister to the spiritual needs of our civilian
population.  Our request was denied and consequently all military
chaplains were compelled to leave Russia with our armed forces.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
I have explained these conditions more extensively in a letter
presented by our Embassy at Iran to Mr. Wenell Willkie on his trip to
Russia.  I am enclosing a copy of this letter for Your Excellency's
information.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
I have just recieced notice of the recent imprisonment of two priest.
Father Cesuls Grabski, O.F.M. Cap., whom I summoned from Archangel for
military service, was seized in the town of Kottas.  Father John
Kapusta, S.O., company with his soldiers, was arrested at the frontier
military post of Krasnowodzk.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
From all this it is evident that any talk about religious freedom in
Russia is a mere legal fiction.  Not only Poles but all people in
general are deprived of pastoral care.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
The articles of the Soviet consitution dealing with divine worship are
worded in such a way that religious services cannot be held publicly.
Practically the only exceptions made was in favor of our armed forces
while they were in Russia.  I am not at all surprised at this state of
affairs since the government of the U.S.S.R is built exclusively on a
creed of materialism.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
                             If