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House Speech Poland, September 1, 1950
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House Speech Poland, September 1, 1950
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D13, folder "House Speech Poland, September
1, 1950" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald
R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
speeches MR. House FORD OF MICHIGAN of Rep.
MR, SPEAKER - Since its inception as a national group, the
Polish nation has been subjected to the expansionist designs of various
peoples. Today on the 11th anniversary of the invasion of Poland by
Germany, eventually culminating in World War II, it would benefit all
of us here to recall and bear in mind the excruciating pain and suffering
to which the people of Poland were, and still are, forced to endure.
The seeds of democracy were implanted in Poland over 150 years
ago - relatively the same period in which America proclaimed to the world
principles which have inspired all men. We were permitted a long period
in which to develop those concepts of the dignity of man and freedom from
tyranny. Poland, on the contrary, suffered a far different fate. The
despetic nations surrounding her on all sides refused to countenance a
nation dedicated to a mode of living which gave to the individual the
smallest semblance of liberty. They denied her the right to political,
economic, and cultural self-determination. Conquest and partition followed.
This has been the lot of Poland to this very hour.
On the first of September, 1939, Germany launched the world upon
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
another global conflict with the invasion of Poland. The full impact of
Digitized from Box D13 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Page -2-
the aftermath of this great struggle is still not crystalized. The blood
of Polish youth was the first shed in the defense of those ideals and
principles which motivated the world to take up arms against National
Socialism and its degemerate philosphy. This defense of their homeland w
the Polish people against overwhelming odds provided the larger Continental
powers with time to prepare themselves for the imminent struggle with Nazism
and at the same time to rid themselves of their previous general apathy with
regard to German aggression. However, the valiant effort of the Poles - their
inspired opposition, was soon overcome by sheer weight of force and they were
forced to technically capitulate. Technical capitulation in the exact sense,
for thousands fled their homeland to take up the struggle in strange countries.
Unfortunately, the end of the war failed to bring the desired results to the
Polish people. The courageous fight to free herself from one tyrant has
merely resulted in a substitution of ideologies. Communism for Naziam is no
improvement.
Is there any hope for a free Poland? Few of the members here doubt the
resurgence of Poland as an independent nation. I strongly believe that no
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD
nation on earth, with the exception of our own, has demonstrated so convincingly
Page -3-
as Poland its desire to enjoy the fruits of democracy and self-determination.
These are not hollow sounding platitudes without force or effect; the people
of Poland have dispelled that conception by their contribution to the
common struggle in the last great conflict. Such is the spirit which
prevails in that stricken land today - such is the spirit which prevails
in any land where man attempts to impose his will upon his fellowman without
concurrence. Certainly no one would be sufficiently naive to assume that
the Polish people have embraced the tenets of Communism, nor would any of
us further assume that the country has resigned itself to domination by
Soviet Russia. To do so would belie facts and mock history.
In this country today, there are millions of Americans of
Polish descent. These people exemplify the traditional desire for free-
dom that is part of the Polish character. Poland will never submit nor
long remain dormant so long as hope remains. It is the solemn responsi-
bility of America to assist in every way possible the Polish people who
believe in liberty and freedom.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Page 1
Our faith in her has not waned. It remains steadfast
in the hope that this great nation will take her place once again
alongside the other nations of the world. To this end the other
countries of the world besides the United States must devote their
full resources and energy.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
MR. FORD OF MICHIGAN
M. SPEAKER - Since its inception as a national group, the
Polish nation has been subjected to the expensionist designs of various
peoples. Today on the 11th enniversary of the invasion of Poland by
Germany, eventually culminating in World Your II, it would benefit all
of us here to recall and bear in mind the excruciating pain and suffering
to which the people of Poland were, and still are, forced to endure.
The seeds of democracy were implanted in Poland over 150 years
ago - relatively the same period in which America proclaimed to the world
principles which have inspired all men. We were permitted a long period
in which to develop those concepts of the dignity of man and freedom from
tyranny. Poland, on the contrary, suffered a far different fate. The
despetic nations surrounding her on all sides refused to countenance
a
nation dedicated to a mode of living which gave to the individual the
smallest semblance of liberty. They denied her the right to political,
economic, and cultural self-determination. Conquest and partition followed.
This has been the lot of Poland to this very hour.
On the first of September, 1939, Germany launched the world upon
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
another clobal conflict with the invasion of Poland. The full impact of
Page -2-
the aftermath of this great struggle is still not crystalized. The blood
of Polich youth vas the first shed in the defense of those ideals and
principles which motivated the world to telm up arms against National
Socialism and its degemerate philosphy. This defense of their homeland by
the Polich people against overwholming odds provided the larger Continental
powers with time to propare themselves for the imminent struggle with Nazion
and at the same time to rid themselves of their previous general apathy with
regard to German acgression. However, the valiant effort of the Polès - their
inspired opposition, Vas soon overcome by sheer weight of force and they were
forced to tochnically capitulate. Technical capitulation in the emet sense,
for thousands fled their homeland to take up the struggle in strange countries.
Unfortunately, the end of the failed to bring the desired results to the
Polish people. The courageous fight to free herself from one tyrant has
merely resulted in a substitution of ideologies. Communium for Nazism 1s no
improvement.
Is there any hope for a free Poland? Few of the members here doubt the
resurgence of Poland as an independent nation. I strongly believe that no
FORD i MBRARY GERALD
action on earth, with the exception of our own, has demonstrated so convincingly
Page -3-
as Poland its desire to enjoy the fruits of democracy and self-determination.
These are not hollow sounding platitudes without force or effect; the people
of Poland have dispelled that conception by their contribution to the
common struggle in the last great conflict. Such is the spirit which
prevails in that stricken land today - such 10 the spirit which provails
in any land where man attempts to impose his vill upon his fellowman without
concurrence. Certainly no one would be sufficiently naive to assume that
the Polish people have enbraced the tonets of Communion, nor would any of
us further assuno that the country has resigned itself to domination by
Soviet Russia. To do so would belie facts and mook history.
In this country today, there are millions of Americans of
Polish descent. These people exemplify the traditional desire for free-
dom that is part of the Polish character. Poland will never submit nor
long remain dormant 00 long as hope remains. It is the solemn responsi-
bility of America to assist in every way possible the Polich people who
believe in liberty and freedom.
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD
Page 1
Our faith in her has not waned. It remains stendfast
in the hope that this great nation will take her place once again
alongside the other nations of the world. To this end the other
countries of the world besides the United States must devote their
full resources and energy
FORD i LIBRARY GERALD