Poles Abroad Condemn Decision

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1945, Page 5

Poles Abroad Condemn Decision

PARTITION OF STATE

Refuse To Be Bound By Crimean Agreement

N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, February 13. The Polish Government in London has announced its refusal to recognise the decisions of the Crimea. Conference and has declared that they could not bind the Polish nation. A special communique says: "Before the conference began the Polish Government handed to the Governments of Britain and America a memorandum in which the hope was expressed that these Governments would not be a party to any decisions regarding an Allied Polish State without previous consultation and without the consent of the Polish Government. At the same time the Polish Government declared itself willing to seek a solution of the dispute initiated by Soviet Russia through the normal international procedure and with due respect for the rights of the two parties concerned. "Despite this, the decisions of the Three-Power conference were prepared and taken not only without the participation and authorisation of the Polish Government but without its knowledge. The method adopted regarding Poland is a contradiction of the elementary principle binding the Allies and constitutes a violation of the letter and spirit of the Atlantic Charter and of the right of every nation to defend its own interests. "The Polish Government declares that the decisions of the Three-Power conference concerning Poland cannot be recognised by the Polish Government and cannot bind the Polish nation. The Polish Government will consider the severance of the eastern half of the territory of Poland and the imposition of a Polish-Soviet frontier following along the so-called Curzon Line as a fifth partition of Poland now accomplished by her Allies. "The intention of the three Powers to create a ' Provisional Polish Government of National Unity' by enlarging the foreignappointed Lublin Committee with persons vaguely described as ' democratic leaders from Poland itself and Poles abroad' can only legalise Soviet interference in Polish internal affairs. "As long as the territories of Poland remain under the sole occupation of Soviet troops a Government of that kind will not be a safeguard for the Polish nation, even in the presence of British and American diplomats, of the unfettered right of free expression. The Polish Government, which is the legal and generally recognised Government of Poland, and which for five and a half years has directed the struggle of the Polish State and nation against the Axis countries through the underground movement in the homeland, and through Polish armed forces in all the theatres of war, has expressed its readiness, in the memorandum presented to the Governments of Britain and America, to co-operate in the creation of a Government in Poland truly representative of the will of the Polish nation. The Polish Government maintains its offer." The Press Association's diplomatic correspondent says that the Polish Government by its announcement is merely hastening its own end. British and American recognition of the London Government will continue only until a new united Government is formed.