MEMORANDUM PRESEMTED TO MR. WENDEL WILLKIE BY THE POLISH EMBASSY AT IRAN  
         RELIGIOUS ASSISTANCE FOR POLES IN THE USSR         
 
                                                            
 
 
In the first stage of the Soviet-Polish relations after the amnesty, the   
Soviet authorites did not hinder some of the liberated Polish priests to   
         exeroise religious service for civilians.          
 
                                                            
 
 
The Polish army officially had the necessary relgious assistance, while a   
number of priests at the same time assisted the families of soldiers in   
                        the country.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
Besides the aid of the Catholic  clergy, the Orthodox and Jewish   
population also had religious assistance, still it must be stated that the   
      majority of polish soldiers are Roman Catholics.      
 
                                                            
 
 
Fearing that in consequence of the Evacuation of the Polish army from the   
USSR, the Polish civilian population should be deprived of religious aid,   
His Excellency Ambassador Kot in agreement with His Excellency Bishop   
Gawlina proposed a minimum program of religious assistance for Catholic   
civilian population remaining in Russia.  This was at the time when   
enlightening the public opinion on increasing religious freedom and   
                   tolerance in the USSR.                   
 
                                                            
 
 
Taking into account the laws of the USSR and the existing difficulties   
this program proposed only  using of 105 priests for religious aid while   
in reality under normal conditions that work would require about a   
                    thousand ministers.                     
 
                                                            
 
 
This proposition was met decidedly unfavorably by the Peoples Commissary    
                         Wysznski.                          
 
                                                            
 
 
Pending a definite answer, General Anders on the 18th of August, 1942   
approached the plenipotentiary of the Peoples Commissaries Council,   
General Zukow in Jangi-Jul on leaving a certain number of Catholic Polish   
priests for the assistance of the Civilian population  an dsoldiers   
families in the districts.  General Zukow answered that since up till then   
the Soviet Government had not agreed to public religious services, it   
would certainly at present refuse to allow them.  If priests secretly   
would hold office, they   
                        undoubtedly