Break Off Discussions On Poland

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1945, Page 3

Break Off Discussions On Poland

LONDON, May 6. Discussions on the Polish question between Britain and Amerca on the one hand and Russia on the other have been broken off. This follows M. Molotov’s statement to Mr Eden hnd Mr Stettinius that the Polish democratic leaders whose disappearance has heen the subject of inquiries have been arrested on a charge of “diversionary activities against the Red Army.” Mr Eden said he had reported this “most serious development” to His Majesty’s Government and informed M. Molotov that, meanwhile, he could not continue discussions on the Polish issue. \

Mr Eden and Mr Stettinius have asked M. Molotov- to obtain a full explanation concerning the arrest of the Polish leaders, a complete list of their names and news- of their present whereabouts.

Soviet Statement The Moscow radio quoting the Tass (Russian) News Agency, made the following statement: “Several British newspapers lately disseminated all sorts of rumours regarding a number of Polish political leaders who are alleged to have disappeared. Questions were asked in the House of Commons on Wednesday in which 15 names were mentioned. The facts are as follows: —

“The group of Poles mentioned consists of 16, not 15, persons. It is headed by the well-known Polish General Oulicki, about whose disappearance British reports have intentionally kept silent in view of the special odiousness of this general. “General Oulicki's group, especially himself, are accused by the Soviet Government of preparing diversionary acts in the rear of the Red Army as a result of which more than 100 Red Army officers and men lost their lives. This group of 16 persons has not disappeared, but was arrested by Soviet military authorities. They are now in Moscow pending the investigation of their case. “They are also accused of installing and ’maintaining illegal radio transmitters in the rear of the Russian troops. All or some of these persons, as the investigations may warrant, will be committed for trial.” Came as a Bombshell M, Molotov first informed Mr. Stettinius and Mr. Eden of the arrest of the Polish group (who were reported to have rnet Russian military authorities for discus sions in March) at dinner on Thursday night, says the Associated Press correspondent in San Francisco. G*ne authority said that after the announcement and just as the three Foreign Ministers were sitting down to dinm-r. M. Molotov casually remarked that the details would come out at the trial. This came close to upsetting some famous appetites. The United Press correspondent says M. Molotov’s 'announcement of the arrests came as a bombshell at the dinner. Those present described his manner as offhand and his attitude that the subject was of no great consequence. Mr. Stettinius and Mr. Eden took no such light, view. It is understood that (he British-Ameri-can attitude was not so much resentment about the arrests as the manner in which the arrests occurred, also the apparently deliberate effort by lhe- Russians to conceal from their allies a vital development in a matter in which all were concerned