SOVIET PEACE TERMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 206, 28 August 1920, Page 7

SOVIET PEACE TERMS.

A CONCESSION OFFERED. POLAND'S MILITIA. iR.v Cabio.-rress Aseochition.-Copyright.l LONDON, August _7. The reply of the Russian Soviet Government to the Anglo-Italian Note is a long document of propagandist character. It describes the Anglo-Italian Note aa a piece of propaganda directed against Bolshevik institutions, and as an act of' interference with Russian affairs, which , justifi.es corresponding action by the j Russian Soviet Government. " J The reply describes the Soviet Govern- j ments proposal for a civic militia iv Poland as a concession, inasmuch ns it would be a supplementary armed force to tho Polish army of 50,000, and suggests that the attitude of the British Government is dictated by tho view that workers must by, nature be animated with the doctrine of Bolshevism. The. reply continues: "Although our interpre- i tat ion of this point in our pence terms . is thoroughly justified, we nevertheless j are willing to remove this, the only j point of divergence, in order to establish i a full understanding regarding the terms ! of peace with Poland. - ' I The reply declares that the Russian | Soviet Government never considered ( their terms as an ultimatum, and had j always been willing to discuss them with Poland, with which Russia alone was treating for peace. "Therefore," it continues, "nny understandings which may be given in this connection will be given j to Poland alone. In view of Russia's earnest desire to attain important results for the world's welfare and pence arising from a peace fith Britain, the I Russian Soviet Government is willing to | inform the British Government that the j Russian Government has resolved to make a concession on this point, and does not insist on the clause referring ' to the arming of workers to form a civic militia in Poland, thus securing full agreement with Britain." The remainder of the reply is a defence of the Russian Soviet Government against the charge of beintr an oligarchy. The reply declares that all States which have a .form of Government different from the Soviet Government are true oligarchies.— (A. and N.Z Cable.) j