George Matulaitis Journal

I also requested him to tell the Belorussian priests to keep calm and to restrain the hotheads since the Poles might arrest and deport them, now that a different wind is blowing in government. I received a document 1 from General Mokrzecki incriminating Belorussian priests, especially Fr. Petrovski of Boruny, who was accused of collaborating with the Bolsheviks (although he was arrested and jailed in Lyda for a couple of weeks, I think). In the written message I was given to understand that I should remove these priests. I gave Mokrzecki’s letter to Father Abaravi ius so that he and Father Petrovski could give an appropriate answer which I could then forward to the General. The Belorussian question is becoming more acute and is making itself felt ever more forcefully. Apparently, more and more priests are turning up who consider themselves Belorussian. The government will not succeed in stifling this Belorussian movement. Just as I had anticipated, there is a commotion, especially among the “endeks,” on account of the Belorussian sermon preached by Father Stankevich at the Bonifratres Church. The newspaper Rzeczpospolita even published a formal complaint to the ecclesiastical authorities: “Why is the Church being belorussified?” Father Chalecki reported that agita- tion against me is going on because of this. But I did not know that there would be a sermon, so how am I at fault? Last year there was even a delegation of Belorussians to see me, asking me to allow them to have a Belorussian sermon during the services. At that time I explained to them that this is not possible under present circumstances. The Poles might incite the common people against them because of it, and a great deal of commotion and unpleasantness would result. They obeyed me and there was no Belorussian sermon. But this year they had the sermon without asking permission. In itself there is nothing wrong with this. In most Catholic countries no one would find fault with it. They would probably be happy that the Belorussians too are worshipping God in their own 318 1 The document was in Polish entitled Dla wiadomo > ci i ewentualnego wykonania , meaning: “Facts to be acted upon in due time.”