SHOCK FELT IN WARSAW

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 9

SHOCK FELT IN WARSAW

British and French Move Awaited ITALY APPROVES DEVELOPMENT (CSITED PRESS ISSOCUTTO*—COpTEIOHT.J (Received August 22, 11 p.m.) LONDON, August 22. The Warsaw correspondent of the British United Press says the news of the Russian-German pact shocked Warsaw, where the first reaction was to wait arid see what Britain and France proposed doing. Some express the opinion that it will mean the end of the British, French, and Russian talks. Others point out that non-aggression pacts do not affect alliances, and recall that the alliance between Poland and France remained in force in spite of the non-aggression pact between Poland and Germany,* which Herr Hitler subsequently denounced. The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of America says it is understood that Signor Mussolini was fully informed of the negotiations for the pact between Russia and Germany, which he approved as likely to secure not only Germany’s aims against Poland, but also the satisfaction of Italy’s claims on France.

The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says diplomatic observers describe Herr Hitler’s turning to Communist Russia for friendship as one of the most dramatic acts in his career. It is interpreted as meaning that Herr Hitler will allow nothing—not even ideological differences—to stand in the way of the policy he considers it necessary to pursue to increase Greater Germany’s power and strength. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says the news of the pact, spread like wildfire throughout Berlin, creating the greatest satisfaction everywhere. One comment was as follows: “Poland is now trapped. The entire Polish question will prove another German walk-over, similar to Czechoslovakia.”

Foreign diplomats were stunned. They expressed the opinion that the pact would vastly strengthen Herr Hitler’s hand, enabling bun to press his anti-Polish campaign with renewed vigour. It is even suggested that Poland might now be'willing to negotiate on what she has hitherto steadfastly refused to discuss. *

M. Lipski, the Polish Ambassador to Germany, arrived at Warsaw at midnight in a special aeroplane from Berlin and immediately conferred with the Foreign Minister (Colonel Beck). i The Government in the early hours discussed the situation in view

of the reported non-aggression pact. The press advised the public to store a fortnight’s food against emergencies. The British Consul-General (Mr P. Sdvery) conveyed a message to British citizens in Poland advising them, that while he does not wish to cause alarms he thinks the situation is such that they should leave Poland unless they have special reasons for staying. A later message from Warsaw says it is reported that Poland was not surprised at the move, as more than once it had been pointed out that the Soviet did not desire to involve herself in European affairs. Other countries might have spared themselves disappointment if they had heeded the Polish views. It is stated that the Polish programme and policy never envisaged Russian help.