Where Does Poland Stand?

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1938, Page 7

Where Does Poland Stand?

(Received 1.30 pm.) LONDON, May 25. The Warsaw correspondent of “The Times” says German circles there express contentment with the attitude of the Polish Government in the recent crisis. The Acting-Foreign Minister, Count Szembek, received the French Ambassador, M. Noel, and the German Ambassador, Herr von Moltke, on Tuesday, also the Czechoslovakian Minister, Dr. Slavik, to-day. What was regarded as an official pronouncement on the Polish Government’s attitude, in view of its commitments under the Franco-Polish alliance, was published in the proGovernment newspaper. Poland’s Obligations.

It states: “Poland, faithful to her alliance with France, Will always fulfill her engagements, and go to the assistance of France if attacked by any other Power. “At the same time, it is considered that Poland cannot allow herself to be drawn into any conflict into which France might be drawn because of alliances with other countries, and especially if the policies of those countries have been the cause of concern to Poland.” It seems clear, therefore, that in the contingency of German intervention in Czechoslovakia, whether the French were involved or not, Poland would retain complete freedom of action. Calm Confidence. M. Czerno, who represents Dr. Hodza in a group of Parliamentarians visiting Poland, said that calm confidence now reigns in“ Czechoslovakia. He added: ‘We are determined to be

prepared for any emergency, and will ..not tolerate aggression against our frontier or sovereignty. We are confident the new minority statute will satisfy the Polish minority, and we hope for a new era of friendship between the two nations.” “Everything possible is being done to bring Czechoslovakia and Poland close together, so as to constitute a barrier against German expansion eastward.” It is alleged that a Czech aeroplane, equipped with a machine-gun, crossed the German frontier at GrossSchoenau, and another allegedly flew over Klingenthal. It is reliably reported that Dr. Eisenlohr, German Minister to Prague, will deliver a demarche to the Czech Government, urging the withdrawal of troops from the Sudeten areas, on the grounds that peace is impossible while they arp there.