Polish Reply Not Satisfactory To Red Government

Northern Advocate, 18 January 1944, Page 3

Polish Reply Not Satisfactory To Red Government

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 17. The Russian Government lias replied to the declaration made by the Polish Government ia London on January 15.

The reply, broadcast over Moscow radio, states: “Firstly, in the Polish declaration the question of recognition of the Curzon line as the RussoPolish frontier was entirely evaded and ignored, which can only be interpreted as a rejection of the Curzon line. “Secondly, as regards the Polish Government's proposal for opening official negotiations between Poland and Russia, the Russian Government is of the opinion that the proposal aims at misleading public opinion, for it is easy to understand that the Russian Government is not in a position to enter into official negotiations with a Government with which diplomatic relations have been broken. “Soviet circles wish it to be borne in mind that diplomatic relations with the Polish Government were broken off through the fault of that (government because of its active participation in hostile, anti-Soviet and slanderous campaign of the German invaders in connection with the alleged murders in Katyn. “Thirdly, in the opinion of Soviet circles, the above mentioned circumstances again demonstrate that the present Polish Government does not desire to establish good neighbourly relations with the Soviet Union." To Investigate Murders Moscow radio has announced that an extraordinary State Commission has been appointed to investigate the murder of a Polish officer and war prisoners by the Germans in the Katyn and Smolensk districts. The commission includes the Academician, Burdenko, the writer, Tolstoy, and the Metropolitan Nikola. Authoritative Polish circles in London. commenting on Moscow statement. declared that they regretted the tone as well as the content of the Soviet reply to the Polish Government's declaration, especially in view of the fact that the Polish statement was of a conciliatory nature, both in spirit and letter. The Polish Cabinet will probaoiy meet at the earliest opportunity to discuss the situation. U.S. Offer of Help The United States has offered to help to restore diplomatic relations between Poland and Russia. So far Moscow has not replied, said Mr. Cordell Hull, at a Press conference. Mr. Hull, without discussing the merits of the boundary question, expressed a hope that some satisfactory means may be found for a resumption of friendly relations.