COMMENT ON PREMIER'S SPEECH

Evening Star, Issue 25422, 1 March 1945, Page 5

COMMENT ON PREMIER'S SPEECH

UNDERLYING DOUBT OF RUSSIA (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 8 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. Mr Churchill's speech, generally speaking, had. a good Press. The chief comment, as expected, centres on'the Polish question. The ' Daily Telegraph ' says the question of Poland's frontiers has ceased to be acutely controversial. What really is at the' back of the uneasiness is a hangover from a distrust of (Russia's intentions. At the bottom the critics' fear is that the freedom and the independence of Poland, to which Russia is committed, would turn out to be a sham. . But the ' Telegraph' sees no other course than the adopting of the Crimea proposals. The ' Manchester Guardian ' says that there is no question of Polish independence. "We have to take things on trust, and Mr Churchill thinks -the Russians will hold faithfully to their word; but even if his expectation is not completely fulfilled we must be careful where we.let our sentiments carry us. We must "think a long time and look all round before we follow those Tories who six years ago were Hitler's appeasers and now, almost to a man, are moving towards their old anti-Soviet tracks."

The ' Daily Herald \ is not convinced that the solution arrived at'is ideal, and declares that Poland's future is being decided by methods which are in direct conflict with the Atlantic Charter. It adds that Mr Greenwood's statement that Poland's fate is being decided "in its absence and behind its back" cannot be contradicted. The ' Herald ' continues that although this compromise of principles may be inescapable in the interests of the larger unity, the fact that it is a compromise should not be glossed over. It would not be necessary if all ' had striven harder for political unity at an earlier stage in the war.