TALKS BEGIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 11

TALKS BEGIN.

POLAND—BRITAIN.

Foreign Ministers Meet In

London.

COLONEL BECK'S VISIT.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 11 a.m.)

LONDON, April 4.

The conversations between Viscount Halifax and Colonel Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, began at the Foreign Office this morning and lasted for two hours. Colonel Beck will meet Mr. Chamberlain in the Prime Minister's room in the House of Commons at 5 p.m. The talks will be resumed to-morrow.

The Earl of Perth, British Ambassador, called on Count Ciano and discussed relations between Britain and Poland.

A Rome message says the Italian Cabinet ratified the Italian commercial agreement with Britain.

The Independent Cable Service says it is understood Colonel Beck is prepare* to offer Britain a pledge of recipntfal guarantees in the event of aggression against vital British interests in Western Europe.

Comments in Polish newspapers emphasise the need for national unity. They feature on the front page a speech of the Nationalist party leader, M. Kowalski. who said: "If'war comes it will be the result of German aggression. If Germany takes another step eastward she must be stopped by the sword."

In view of the pending discussions with Colonel Beck, the Foreign Undersecretary, Mr. R. A. Butler, declined to make a statement on the present position at Danzig in reply to a question in the House of Commons.