RUSSIAN ATTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 97, 20 January 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN ATTITUDE

Polish Leaders’ Policy

LONDON, January 18. The Russian attitude toward the differences between Russia and Poland is dealt with in a dispatch from the Mos*eow correspondent of the “News Chronicle,” Paul Wihterton, who summarizes what, in his view, are the main points of Russian policy. First, he says, while it is true that the Soviet Government wants an agreeable frontier, it is also true that Russia wants a Poland with a government sincerely friendly to the (Soviet Union. That is an. absolute essential. In the Russian view the Polish Government does' not meet this essential. In fact, the Russians think the majority of the people in the Polish Government in London have never been, and can never be. friendly to-the (Soviet Union. The correspondent says the Russians, by denouncing a number of leading members of the Polish Government in London. have shown their determination not to negotiate with it, whether directly or through intermediaries. Whether the Russians would be prepared to negotiate with a -reconstructed Polish Government in (London from which the alleged antiSoviet elements have been removed, the correspondent does not -pretend to know, but his personal view is that the Russian reaction would be favourable because he believes that the Russians want to reach a settlement in agreement with their allies which would -be satisfactory to all.

DELAYED MESSAGE ABOUT MEDIATION (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received January 19, 11.45 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January 18. Commenting on hte American offer to seek a resumption of RussO-Poljsh diplomatic relations, Mr. Cordell Hull said the State Department’s'message on January 15 had not reached Moscow till January 17 because atmospheric conditions interfered with its transmission. The “New York Herald” points out that Mr. Hull’® statement implied that the offer was not brought to the attention of the Kremlin till after Russia’had rejected the Polish Government’s request tor British and Ameircan mediation.