SOVIET ANSWER

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1920, Page 5

SOVIET ANSWER

MAIN POINT CONCEDED.

IN POLISH PEACE TERMS

NO OUTSIDER RECOGNISED

(Received 8.0 a.m.)

LONDON, Aug. 26

The Soviet's reply is a long document of propagandist character. It describes the Lucerne note as a species of propaganda directed, against Bolshevist institutions and as an act of .interference with Russian affairs which justifies corresponding Soviet action. The reply describes the proposal for civic militia in Poland as a concession inasmuch as it would be a supplementary armed force to the Polish Army of titty thousand, and suggests that the attitude of the British Government :_ dictated by the view that workers must by nature be animated with the doctrine of Bolshevism.

The reply continues: "Although our interpretation of this point in ,our peace terms is thoroughly justified we nevertheless are willing to remove this the only point of divergence, in order to establish a full understanding regarding the terms of peace wth Poland."

The reply also declares: "The Soviet has never considered its terms as an ultimatum and always has been willing to discuss the terms with Poland with which country alone it is treating for pfeace; therefore any understandings which may be given in this connection will' be given to Poland alone. In view of Russia's earnest desire to attain important results for the world's welfare and peace arising from peace with Britain, the Soviet is willing to inform the British Government that the Russian Government is resolved to make a concession on this point .and does not insist on the clause referring to the arming of workers as civic militia in Poland, thus securing full agreement with Britain."

The remainder of the reply is a defence of the Soviet against the charge of being an oligarchy, and declares that all States which have a form of government different from that of the Soviet are true oligarchies. —Reuter.