FRONTIER OF POLAND

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24151, 10 January 1944, Page 5

FRONTIER OF POLAND

Reported Soviet Proposals

ALLIES SAID TO APPROVE (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 8. “The Russian Government has made definite proposals for a compromise settlement of the territorial dispute with Poland,” says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Observer.” “Under the Russian proposals, which are reported to have British and American approval, the new Russian-Polish frontier would be based, with certain modifications, on the 1920 Curzon Line, which runs roughly due south from the southernmost point of Lithuania. “Russia would return Grodno and Bialystok to Poland, but would retain Wilno and the rest of east Poland. “Russia and her Allies, to compensate Poland, envisage Poland’s frontiers extending westward by the inclusion of German territory. “The Russian proposals are believed to have been made before the Red Army last week crossed the old Polish frontier.” , , , . „ “Before us lies the great task of ieconstruction in Poland. The London Fascists, treading in the footsteps of Goebbels’s propaganda, spread rumours that we intend to Sovietise Poland. No one to-day believes such futilities, but it is true that we wish to build up a democratic parliamentary Poland, m which the whole nation will have a say in matters of government.” This statement, attributed to a spokesman for the Union of Polish Patriots, and broadcast to Poland from Moscow, is quoted by Reuter. ■ “If we are all to safeguard the nation’s security, a central nucleus ox authority must come into being which will preserve us from all Fascist designs,” said the spokesman. “If there are people in London to whom the nation’s freedom is dear —as no doubt there are —let them come out openly and courageously against all who are holding handcuffs ready for the future Poland. ~. „ “The Polish troops grasp better than these professional politicians that Poland must be rebuilt in fraternal alliance with the White Russians, Ukrainians, and Czechs. The Polish soldier understands that frontier problems must be settled once and for all. The Polish soldier appreciates that a Poland firmly entrenched on the Baltic and enriched by economically valuable territory taken from the Germans, can build peace and happiness.”

FUTURE OP NAZI

PARTY

UNDERGROUND WORK LIKELY REPORTS FROM BERLIN (Rec 10.45 p.m.) NEW YORK. Jan. 9. “Well-informed Berlin circles say that the Nazi leaders have already arranged for the party to pass underground as soon as necessary,’ says the Stockholm correspondent of the ‘New York Times.” “A vast number of the Hitler Youth Party as well as the potential legions of critics of whatever conditions defeat would impose on Germany would be sufficient to establish a new organisation which, working from below would become a factor of unrest and trouble in post-war Germ “Many recent statements by prominent Nazis make it plain that the idea of disaster has occurred to them as something more than a remote possibility. It is clear, Imwever, that so long as the Nazis remain in power and until the last shots are fired the party won’t acknowledge defeat any more than will the military hierarchy. . “Both factions are working hand in glove with Himmler and the Wilhelmstrasse blandly envisages that even the generals will be thrown on their own if the eastern front splits under the weight of the Soviet onslaughts. "With the nerve centre, Berlin, systematically hammered by air blows, the Nazi’s State is already cut up into sections working independently with administrative offices scattered in dozens of different directions. This disruption naturally gives a dictator plenty cf time for loafing, making his office more or less superfluous. This is a fact which Hiller probably realises. In any case his pubfic appearances are steadily becoming rarer, and evidently the only use the party has for him is as a figurehead.”

REVOLUTION IN

BOLIVIA

OUTSIDE FORCES BLAMED

(Roc. ,9 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Jan. B. "Information now available here increasingly strengthens the belief that forces outside Bolivia and unfriendly to the defence of the American Republics inspired and aided the Bolivian revolution,” said the Secretary of Slate (Mr Cordell Hull), in a statement. He added that the present consultation among 10 American countries concerning the origin of the revolution would soon permit each Government to rcjich its own conclusions. The United Press says that although Mr Hull has not identified the forces, it is suspected that the revolution was engineered with the aid of Axis forces m Argentina, the only country to re-co-nise the new Bolivian regime. “Mr Hull's statement indicated that 19 Governments have already agreed to withhold recognition from Bolivia, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” Furthermore it is understood that they may take action towards further isolating Argentina.

“British collaboration ' is necessary because of strong trade connexions. This is believed to have been the subject of a conference 10-day attended by Mr Hull, the Secretary of the JTreasurv (Mr H. L, Morgenlhau). the director of the Office of Economic Warfare iMr Leo T. Crowley), the British Ambassador (Lord Halifax), and the chairman of the British Supply Council (Mr Ben Smith).

Home Forces Commander.—General Sir Harold E. Fraiiklyn has been appointed Gommander-in-Chief of the Home Forces in succession to General Sir Bernard Paget, who was recently appointed to the chief command in the Middle East. General Franklyn has been commanding the troops in Northern Ireland since May, 1911. —London, January 7.