Strong Eastern Europe Entente Sought by Poles

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7242, 23 August 1933, Page 10

Strong Eastern Europe Entente Sought by Poles

German Talk of New Frontiers Results in Treaty With Russia Eccent events in Europe liavo resulted in n growing rapprochement between Poland and the Little Entente, particularly Czechoslovakia. This is partly due to a desire to counteract the openly expressed intention of the dominant parties in Germany to work for new frontiers which will include all Germans in whatever part of Europe they may bo living. But equally is it the result of Italy’s four-power pact proposal which in its first draft was held to foreshadow an attempt by the great powers to force frontier revision at the expenso of the smaller ones. Although the text of the pact has since been very considerably modified, it is still regarded with grave suspicion in Poland. Consequently the Government is looking around with a view to sponsoring an eastern European bloc strong enough to resist the hegemony of the four great westorn powers. It is considered significant in this connection that relations between Poland and Soviet Russia have improved out of all knowledge during the oast few months. Not only have the two Governments signed a non-agression pact and a treaty of conciliation, but the past few months have seen several trade missions exchanged between the two countries as a result of which a number of orders have been placed and more are pending. It was noticed, moreover, that Poland supported the Soviet proposal for a pact of economic non-aggression put forward by Mr Maxim Litvinoff at the World Economic Conference in London. In regard to the Little Entente, Poland and Rumania are already united by a treaty dating back to 1922. With Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, tho political ties are less close. There is, on the other hand, the bond of common origin, since all three countries —and Soviet Russia, too, for that matter — are inhabited mainly by Slavic races. It is felt together, they can constitute a tremendously strong barrier to German penetration, and there is no doubt that the Polish Government’s policy is directed toward the erection of such a barrier. In this, it is supported by almost all the opposition parties because there is no confidence felt here in the recent peaceful protestations of the Hitler Government in Germany. Rightly or wrongly, the attitudo of the whole country, irrespective of politics, is that the German Govern-ment pursues a policy of peace because there is at the moment no other course open to it. But Poland is firmly convinced that just as soon as a suitable occasion presents itself, the-policy of the strong arm will bo substituted. It is claimed, moreover, that the Polish Government is in possession of abundant evidence that Germany is already rearming contrary to the Treaty of Versailles. Another direction in which Poland is seeking to achieve co-operation with the Little Entente is in the sphere of agricultural policy. Poland has for some time been trying hard to form a ‘‘bloc’' of southeast Europe which would seek special preferences for its farm products in the industrial countries of western Europe in return for similar preferences for west European industrial goods. Tho recent Little Entente pact which pledges its members to a joint economic policy, is therefore ono which concerns Poland very closely. Indeed, the well-being of Polish agriculture and industry alike demands co-operation with this new 1 ’bloc. ’’ While so far no concrete steps have been taken to give treaty form to this growing community of interests with the Little Entente, conversations are undoubtedly going on behind tho scenes for closer relations. There is talk of an exchange of visits between Mr Josef Beck, tho Polish Foreign Minister, and Mr Edouard Bones, the Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia. Moreover, there is a constantly growing intercourse between individuals which is regarded as a happy augury for future friendship.