George Matulaitis Journal

When I was alone, I reflected on the best way of dealing with such spies and provocateurs. Perhaps it would be better simply to refuse to let them in and leave it at that. However, I decided it would be best to see them and to speak to them politely. Let them learn how things stand directly from me, the primary source. Then they will know the facts and will settle down more quickly. Otherwise, they are likely to think all sorts of things and collect all kinds of false information about me during their spying expeditions. In the afternoon another Bolshevik, Jupavich, a Russian student, came with a friend who did not give his name but said he was Polish. I asked for their papers. This Jupavich showed me an authorization that he had been sent by the Housing Agency to question me about whether I had incited the people against the Bolsheviks or had urged the railroad workers to go on strike. When I explained what had actually happened, they calmed down and went away. Later that afternoon I gave the first retreat conference for educated men in the seminary chapel on the purpose and destiny of man. I spoke in Polish. At ten in the evening (about 12:05 Bolshevik time), four or five Bolsheviks arrived. Ostensibly bringing me a telegram, they tried to break in through the gates. But the gates had been bolted with a log, and the woman of the night duty would not let them in, saying that if they had a message, they could hand it in through the crack. They kept banging on the gate and cursing for a long time. I lay down without undressing, thinking that they would be back in greater force and would surely break into my room to arrest me. After waking up at three o’clock, I undressed and lay down properly. The rest of the night passed quietly. On April 1st the Bolsheviks began strictly to enforce the school decree. Now the problem of the schools has arisen in all its significance and gravity. What are we to do to oppose this pernicious action taken by the Bolsheviks? Once again, I began reading whatever I could find about what the Church has decided and how it has acted in similar instances. I also consulted with various people. In the afternoon I gave a conference on sin to the educated men. The other conferences, both for men and women, were given by Father Joseph, as on former occasions. On April 2nd two delegates from the Polish Committee for Education [ Komitet Edukacyjny ]— W"c=aw ski and Dmochowski— 242