EUROPEAN DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 306, 28 November 1927, Page 7

EUROPEAN DISPUTE

POLAND AND LITHUANIA. MACHINATIONS OF SOVIET. UNDERHAND MOTIVE. (By Electric Telegraph.;—Copyright.) . J LONDON, Nov. 26. As a result of Soviet tactics, the long-standing quarrel between Poland and Lithuania has suddenly flared up. Russia sent a .mesasge to Warsaw delivering a lecture on the importance of preserving peace, and, with her usual lack of a rumour, threatened extreme measures if Poland were to attack Lithuania. Meanwhile M. Litvinoff is with Dr Stfesemann at Berlin. A non-committal communique mentions that the matter was discussed. The Dailey' Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent expresses the opinion that Moscow’s aim is her 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 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 the Vilha 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 more 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 with Poland since General Zeligowski seized Vilna in 1920. Lithuania appealed to the League, which referred the matter to Hie Council of Ambassadors, who in 1923 decided in favour' of Poland. Lithuania remained unreconciled, and continuous disputes have arisen from other causes, such as the educational rights of Lithuanian-speaking people in Poland and Polish-speaking people in Lithuania. —A. and N.Z. cable. GOVERNMENT OVERTHROWN. UNCONFIRMED REPORT. LONDON, Nov. 27. Unconfirmed reports from Riga state that M. Valdeman’s Government has been oventhrown. —A. and N.Z. cable. CONFLICTING STORIES. LEAGUE ACTION PROBABLE. WARSAW, Nov. 26. Amid conflicting stories of tension with Lithuania arises an obvious design to impress the League of Nations with the need for definite action. It is rumoured that Marshal Pilsudski may go to Geneva to submit the case to the Council. One suggestion is to place Lithuania under a' neutral mandate.— Australian Press Association and Sun cable.

GERMANY’S ATTITUDE. PREPARED TO CO-OPERATE WITH POWERS. Received November 28, 10.5 a.m. BERLIN, Nov. 27. The Government’s attitude towards the Polish-Lithuanian dispute is that it is prepared to co-operate with 'the other Powers in a settlement, but it does not intend to take the initiative in seeking League intervention on the basis of the rumours which have been repeatedly denied by Poland.—A. and N.Z. cable.