NEW DANGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 15

NEW DANGER

POLISH THREAT FRONTIER DISPUTE NOTE TO LITHUANIA 36 HOURS FOR REPLY PABADES IN WAESAW By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (.Received March :18, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 18 The Polish Government has sent a Note to Lithuania containing its terms for settlement of the present dispute, and requests a reply within 36 hours. The correspondent of the British United Press at Warsaw says the demands include the restoration of diplomatic relations, the recognition of Vilna as Polish, and the resumption of normal traffic between the two countries. The terms laid down in the Polish Note are described as "indispensable to the avoidance of further incidents endangering peace." The Lithuanian Government received "the Polish Xote and the Cabinet met immediately. The Times' correspondent at Warsaw says the Note is believed reasonable in tone and does not suggest conditions that arc impossible for Lithuania to discuss. It has been officially announced in Warsaw that the Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, will make a statement to tlie Senato on Tuesday upon the whole problem of Polish and Lithuanian relations. In the meantime, thousands continue to parade the streets of Warsaw shouting: "Seize Lithuania! March on Kovno!" The authorities confiscated a newspaper which stated that the Government had sent an ultimatum to Lithuania, "for publishing false news." The signal for the outbreak of.the present dispute between Poland and Lithuania was the alleged shooting of a Polish frontier guard a few yards inside Lithuanian territory on March 11. There have been rumours of troop movements in the past week on both sides of the frontier. The result has been the belief that the Polish Government intends to put an end to "Lithuanian provocation" and compel the establishment, after 18 years of continuous friction, of normal diplomatic and trade relations. Colonel Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, returned to Warsaw early this week after a visit to Italy, whore he had conversations with Signor Mussolini. ■Lithuania has discussed the incident with Britain, and is also believed to have drawn tlie attention of other Powers to Poland's attitude. It has been reported that Lithuania proposes to appeal to the League if Poland refuses to discuss the crisis.

POSSIBLE INVASION TROOPS READY TO MARCH POLISH MINISTER'S PLANS NEW GOVERNMENT BY FORCE (Received March 3S, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, March IS Jf Poland's ultimatum to Lithuania is rejected or an unsatisfactory reply is received, Polish trontx, will march on Kovno, says the Daily Herald's Warsaw correspondent, . General Kasprzyeki, the Polish War Minister, estimates his mechanised infantry and artillery unite, already massed on the frontier, will reach the Lithuanian capital in two or three hours. Little resistance is expected from the Lithuanian army, which consists of only 24,000 men. A proclamation would then be issued inviting the Lithuanian people to elect a Government that would make peace with Poland and conclude a lasting political agreement. The Polish troops would then move out, as Poland, it is stated, does not desire to annex the country. Estonia and Latvia are reported to be urging Lithuania to accept Poland's demands, which also include the punishment of those concerned in the frontier incident.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S REQUEST REPRESENTATIONS IN WARSAW (Received March 18, 5.5 p.in.) British Wireless RUGBY, March 17 Questioned-in the House of Commons on tho Polish-Lithuanian frontier incident, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, sriid the British Ambassador at Warsaw, Sir Howard Kennard, had been requested to impress upon Poland the importance that Britain attached to peaceful settlement of the incident.