POLAND WARNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 196, 21 August 1939, Page 7

POLAND WARNED.

TURN FROM ALLIES. Italy Reported To Be Against Conflict. POPE SEES POLISH ENVOY. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, August *20. According to a message from Rome, Signor Mussolini's Press mouthpiece, Signor Gayda, >ays that Poland has only a few more days to reflect. "Does she want to bang the door on a reasonable solution, or be overwhelmed in an adventure which will threaten her independence?" he asks. "Her real friends should counsel her to turn from Britain and France and try at the eleventh hour, directly to make contact with Germany. It is'evident that the present tension cannot last longer than a few days." Other newspapers predict that Herr Hitler will either, at Tannenberg or Nuremburg, issue an ultimatum to Poland to come to terms or light. Intense interest has resulted from a report l>y Renter's Berlin correspondent that the Italian Ambassador, Dr. Attolico, visited Heir Hitler at Berchtesgaden yesterday and delivered an un.avourable reply from Signor Mussolini to a vital question raised in the talk between Herr Hitler and Count C'iano. -Dr. Attolico later visited Herr von Ribbentrop at Schlossfuschl, near Salzburg, says "The Times" Berlin corres- j pondent. There is no indication as to what the question is related to, but it is reliably stated that Signor Mussolini is strongly opposed to war and is supporting the Pope's moves behind the scenes to induce a peaceful settlement, especially of the Danzig question. The British United Press Vatican City representative asserts that the Pope has sent a special envoy to Warsaw. The Pope to-day received the PolisTi Ambassador to the Holy See. It is understood 4hat the Danzig situation was discussed. Addressing Italian pilgrims the Pope .urged them not to abandon hope. Riders were conscious of their responsibility and wanted to spare their peoples from disaster. He besought statesmen throughout the world to settle their differences peacefully and advised prudence and reserve while awaiting developments. The Italian Press campaign lias been significantly toned down, and the news- ! papers are now adjuring "our old i friends the Poles" to negotiate with I Germany without delay ! The announcement that Signor Mussolini would shortly visit Albania was made at Tirana, the Albanian capital, by Count C'iano, Italian Foreign Minister, and was cheered by a crowd.

Regarded as perhaps the most complete German victory during the World War, the battle of Tannenburg resulted in the utter defeat of a strong Russian army and the capture of between 80,000 and 90,000 prisoners. The battle proper, sometimes called the battle of Osterode, opened on August 27, 1914, with a powerful German thrust which compelled the formerly advancing Russians to withdraw. The Germans later succeeded in encircling them and cutting off the possibility of help so that the majority were compelled to surrender or perish. The date has also an earlier historical significance which might well be used to inflame German hatred against the Poles. Tannenburg was also the scene of a disastrous defeat of the early Teutonic knights of the Poles and Lithuanians in 1410. The annual Nazi Nuremburg rally is held early in September. WISH TO AVOID WAR. Hungary Anxious To Preserve Neutrality. FOREIGN MINISTER ACTIVE. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. The Hungarian Foreign Miniiter, Count Csaky, who recently visited Salzburg, Germany, and then flew to _ Rome to confer with Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano, left Rome by air yesterday for Budapest. He arrived to-day in Graz on an unknown mission. It is known that Hungary is anxious to preserve her neutrality in the event of war. The French Foreign Office has received assurances that Count Csakys visits have not affected the friendship between Hungary and Poland. Ji. Hungarian member of Parliament, M. Tibor Eckhardl, emphasises HunI gu;'i desire for neutrality.