HAS FRANCE DECIDED TO RECOGNISE WRANGEL'S GOVERNMENT?

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7472, 13 August 1920, Page 3

HAS FRANCE DECIDED TO RECOGNISE WRANGEL'S GOVERNMENT?

_~=,h premier Has no Official 801 Information

« Tek«r«ph-Piess Association- Copyright Reuters lelegrams Rec Aug 13, morning London, Aug II Mr Lloyd George heightened the mystery as regards Reuters *«* from Pans that France had : rf4i'ed General VVrangel's Government and that the French Fnrcign Office had notified Mr 'Tfovcl George oi the decision yesterday, when he told the House of.Commons this afternoon Sat his only information was - Reuters telegram, and he could scarcely credit it. He had no confirmation from any other scource, but Reuters' enquiries m Paris elicited lhe reply that the news, as given, was official. The action of our French ally is regarded in London as deliberately designed to put a spoke into the wheels of peace, which seemed assured in the Near East and apparently splits the Allied Associated |Powers into two camps, namely, France, with the United States, opposed to Britain and Italy. One of the French reasons given for the action is General Wrangel's assurance as regards Russia's external engagements, which is diplomatese for Russian bonds. Anyway a prominent official to-night emphasised the fad that the British attitude remains rs outlined by Mr Lloyd George Last evening Mr Lloyd George possessed no information in regard to the matter while the Foreign Office is equally in the dark, and also the French Embassy. The British Premier said he could hardly believe the statement is .ccurate because he fully discussed the whole situation with M. Millerand (French Premier) on Monday, when there was no proposal to recognise General Wrangel. He assumed that the report was inaccurate, jiecause he felt certain M. Millerand would have communicated hisintention. It was well known that France's attitude towards General Wrangel was at variance with Britain's attitude. The former considered they were free to sustain General Wrangel, but Britain did not propose to do so, except in a contingency, as explained last evening. lhe premier concluded that an unfortunate mistake had occurred in a report from a very reliable agency, and the French Government had not authorised it.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Rec Aug 13, morning London, Aug II Owing to the European situation Parliament will not adjourn for the recess to-morrow, as intended. Russians Massing For Attacks on Poles The Times Rec Aug 13, 8.45 a.m. London, Aug 12 A Berlin correspondent at the front states the northern army is in the gravest danger of being turned. The Russians are massing for attacks on both sides of the railway leading from Seidlice to Warsaw. The Poles are desperately preparing the defences of the city, a civilian guard being largely employed. The civilian population is apathetic. The city is rapidly emptying, the the trains being crammed. *" The 'Government still lingers, fearing that its departure would mean the immediate establishing of a Soviet Government. Russo-Getman Agreement Denied m Copenhagen, Aug 12 Litvinofl, a Soviet representative, interviewed, denied the existence of a Russo-German agreement, adding: "If a new war is declared it will be much more dangerous and cruel than the v;ar just finished." Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Rec Aug 13, 9.20 a.m. London, Aug 12 Uie French Embassy has not received news of General "range!, but expects a message latenntheday. &»$ Forest Fires in Russia " ix\f London, Aug 12

,AMoscow wireless message, dcplonng the great losses by S fi«s destroying villages benn, Vf lUable. fue! > urges the People to combat the fires, which *c inflicting a severe blow on ux already shaky common K^situation." The message Zl at nl any fires maybe d»e lo«ieactsofthe Soviet's enemies. onhsh Squadron io Finnish Waters T Copenhagen, Aug 12 ronVnl- riV. alof a Briti*h squadan*S '-nni sh waters has created anxiety in Petrograd. Trench Press Opinions

ThpPnffT, • ? ar' S > Al,g I 2 «■ LhlvJ a rSienne| referril, S inform^ loydGeorge not being inof r regar iding the rp 'c°Z^oHhe S?n al Wran Sel as head say S fh.° Uth u ßllssian Government >s the ambassador in London notify IT** and instr«cted to *ewLS c F? rejS" Office- The not&r^ ks.ifthesituationis U^oniderabie time has taken T j?.l» France. Cl J™ra.al'> ys if Poland in London S Vu-n enCouragement "ition ofV L Mll,erand's recogTh. 1° raise her Wrangel a ° ff CU- Vrj" says : "The toFra n carlrhas been costlier i„a^_?. lther or 'in Edition it is costing

jus what is left of the British ! alliance." I The "Echo de Paris" says it is the first time since peace that France has departed from England. The paper trusts that the parting will not be of lengthy duration and that ."England, under the pressure of events, may rejoin us." Rec Aug 13, 9.35 a.m. Paris, Aug 12 The."Matin considers that the French action is justified because Mr Lloyd George himself went beyond the Hythe agreement in advising Poland to accept the Russian terms, if reasonable, Some newspapers consider that Mr Lloyd George's Russian attitude is due to British Labour threats. Confirmation of France's Recog nifcion of Wrangel Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Ree Aug 13, 12.30 p.m London, Aug 12 The French Embassy has received confirmation of France's recognition of General Wrangel. Mr Lloyd George and M. Millerand will meet at Boulogne on the 15th inst. His Majesty, King George, owing to the situation, has post poned his visit <o Scotland. Russian Cavalry Reach Suburbs of Warsaw London, Aug 12 Latest advices state that the Russian cavalry has entered the suburbs of Warsaw. Poles and Russians Fail to Meet Reuters Telegrams Rec Aug _3, 12.30 p.m London, Aug 12 The fateful August II when the Poles and Russians should have met at Minsk to begin pourparlers passed without the delegates coming into contact. According to Bolshevik allegations the Poles ignore the Soviet radio messages, while the Poles similarly blame the Russians.

A Russian wireless from Warsaw to-day, which Kameneff (Soviet representative) handed to Mr Lloyd George says the Rus sian command waited in vain for the Polish delegates at the place indicated where all facilities for the Polish delegates were provided. The message concludes : "We have no intentions incompatible with Poland's liberty, independence, and sovereign rights. We recognise the same in full."

Departure of Polish Representatives London, Aug 12 A later message states that the ; first move in the negotiations has' materialised, the Polish Foreign Minister telegraphing that the Poles have dispatched pariiamentaires to come to an understanding with the Russian command. Trotsky Commands "'Red Army" Paris, Aug 12 Trotsky has arrived at Bialystok, and established headquarters there. It is presumed that he has assumed the~ command of the ''Red" army"Matin" Defends French Action The French newspaper ''Matin' in defending France's action, says the Government considered that the Polish Cabinet, seemed to favour energetic efforts, of which the offer of the Supreme command to General Weigand was an indication. The Government therefore thought Poland ought not to be able to say to the Allies that they themselves advised her to lay down arms under disastrous conditions.