EUROPEAN QUARREL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 November 1927, Page 5

EUROPEAN QUARREL

POLAND AND LITHUANIA.

tAust.Fi.lian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, November 26.

As a result of the Soviet’s tactics a long-standing quarrel between Poland and Lithuania has suddenly fired up. Russia sent a message to Warsaw delivering a lecture on the importance of preserving peace, and with usual lack of humour, threatening extreme measures if Poland were to attack Lithuania. Meanwhile, Litvinoff with Herr Stresemann are at Berlin. A non-committal communique mentions that the matter was discussed.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent, expressed the opinion that Moscow’s aim is recognition as a party to the dispute, and thus indirectly to secure an invitation to the League Council, where the question is being raised. Whatever was her object, Russia has certainly succeeded in pushing the quarrel to the forefront. It is reported from Warsaw that Marshal Pilsudski does not intend to reply to the Soviet and will pursue his own course undeterred by threats. There are persistent rumours that Poland is engineering another unofficial raid on Lithuania, on a Vilna plan, but the correspondent regards the reports of suspicion as emanating from Russian sources. The internal situation in Lithuania is apparently unsettled. Dictator Waldemara’s position is most precarious. Officers who were responsible for the coup d’etat which placed him in power, are no longer supporting him. Lithuania declares she has been at war since General Zeligowski seized Vilna in 1920. Lithuania appealed to the League, which referred the matter to the Council of Ambassadors who in 1923, decided in favour of Poland. Lithuania remained unreconciled from other causes, such as the educational rights of Lithuania-speaking people in Poland, and Polish-speaking people in Lithuania. MANDATE PROPOSED.

AVARS AAV, November 26. Amid conflicting stories of tension with Lithuania, arises an obvious design to impress the League of Nations of the need for.definite action. It is rumoured that Alarshal Pilsudski may go to Geneva to submit the case to the Council. One suggestion is to place Lithuania, under a neutral mandate. GERMANY’S ATTITUDE.

BERLIN, November 27. The Government’s attitude towards the Polish-Lithuanian dispute is that it is prepared to co-operate with other Powers in a settlement but does not intend to take the initiative in seeking the League’s intervention on the basis of rumours which have been repeatedly denied by Poland.