SOVIET RELATIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20066, 12 October 1939, Page 5

SOVIET RELATIONS

PAST YEAR’S TALK NO EARLY DISCLOSURE DISMEMBERED STATES ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN QUESTIONS IN COMMONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) (British Ofiicial AVireloss.) Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 11. Replying to a question in the House of Commons concerning the publication of a Blue Book containing documents dealing with the relations of the United Kingdom and Russia between August, 1938, and October, 1939, the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. R. A. Butler, said it was not the Government's intention to publish such documents at the present time. Replying to a question concerning the present position of the British Government regarding the recognition of the new Polish Government and of the functions of the President of the Polish Republic, Mr. R. A. Butler said that, as already reported, Sir Howard Kennard will proceed to France in a few days to resume his duties as British Ambassador at the seat of the Polish Government. New Czech Cabinet Mr. Buirer sard that His Majesty’s Government had no official information as to the constitution of the new Czechoslovak Government. Replying to a further question, Mr. Butler said the British relations with Spain were developing in a normal friendly manner. The Polish Foreign Minister, M. August Zaleski, reached London from Paris this morning. He had a long conversation with Viscount Halifax in the afternoon and later saw Mr. Neville Chamberlain. To-night the Polish Ambassador, Count Raczynski. gave a dinner for M. Zaleski, those including Lord Halifax, Sir John Simon, Lord Macmillan, Major C. R. Attlee, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Sir Howard Kennard, General Carton De Wiart, Viscount Cecil, Lord Camrose, and Lord Melchett.

BALKAN INFLUENCE

RUMANIA ZONE TALK OF OCCUPATION (Reed. Oct. 12, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 10. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that diplomatic reports received there indicate that Germany has informed the Soviet that the eventual Russian occupation of Bessarabia, the northern province of Rumania, will be unopposed. Berlin and Moscow have been unable to agree on vital zones of influence in the Balkans. It is stated that M. Stalin has manoeuvred Herr Hitler Into a position where the Fuehrer must either sacrifice any pretensions to Italian forbearance or risk ldsing the Russians’ raw materials.

TEN PILOTS ESCAPE

FLIGHT FROM WARSAW MAKESHIFT MACHINES LONDON, Oct. 10. The story of how 10 Polish pilots escaped from Warsaw in makeshift machines which they built themselves was told in Paris toy the leader, Colonel Novak. He was the commander of the air defence of Warsaw, and has now joined the Polish Army in France. Colonel Novak said they escaped two days before the city surrendered. In six days they built seven makeshift aeroplanes. They searched all through half-burned hangars and aviation schools for spare parts. The pilots decided to leave on the night of September 26. Infantry were ordered to clear the aerodrome, which was in German hands. Charging with bayonets and hand grenades they drove the enemy back. The machines were wheeled out and the motors started, but their noise was drowned by the sound of machine-gun and artillery fire. Colonel Novak said it was two o’clock in the morning when the machines crossed the German lines and enemy fire brought down one of the Polish machines. The remainder circled Warsaw at a height of 9000 ft. and the pilots saw the city lit up by burning buildings. They they turned and headed for neutral territory.

PRESIDENT BACKED

PLEDGE OF C.. 1.0. HEAD (Reed. Oct. 12, 9 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO) Oct. 10. Commenting that “President Roosevelt knows best,” Mr. John Lewis, president of the Committee for Industrial Organisation, announced that the C. 1.0. is backing the President’s neutrality programme. Mr. Lewis pledged the support of 4,000,000 members in any situation “which imperils the integrity and existence of free institutions under our flag.”