POLAND'S REPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24793, 17 January 1944, Page 3

POLAND'S REPLY

RUSSIAN FRONTIER DISCUSSIONS DESIRED FRIENDLY NATIONS' AID H LONDON, Jan. 15 The Polish Government issued a statement in London yesterday in reply to the recent statement by the Soviet Government in reference to boundaries and other international problems. It is as follows: "The Polish Government has taken cognisance of the Soviet Government's declaration of January 11, which was issued as a reply to the declaration by the. Polish Government on January 5. "The Soviet communique contains a number of statements to which a complete answer is afforded by the ceaseless struggle against the Germans which is being waged at heavy cost by the Polish nation under the direction of the Polish Government. Preserving Allied Solidarity "In their earnest anxiety to safeguard the complete solidarity of the United Nations, especially at this decisive stage of their struggle against the common enemy, the Polish Government considers that it is preferable now to refrain from further public discussions. "While the Polish Government cannot recognise unilateral decisions or accomplished facts which have taken place or might take place on the territory of the Polish Republic, they have repeatedly expressed their sincere desire for a Polish-Russian agreement on terms whiclf are just and acceptable to both sides. "To this end the Polish Government, is approaching the British and American Governments with a view to securing through their intermediaries discussions by the Polish and Russian Governments on all outstanding questions, the settlement of which should lead to friendly and permanent PolishRussian co-operation. The Polish Government believes this to be desirable in the interests of the victory of the United Nations and harmonious relations in post-war Europe." The Soviet Proposal In reply to the statement made by the Polish Government when the Russian Army recently drove the Germans across the 1939 frontier, says the British official wireless, the Soviet Government offered a solution to the frontier question on the basis of the Curzon Line.

That line is much nearer the partition line of 1939 than the frontier of the previous 19 years, but nevertheless it involves the restoration by the Russians of large, predominantly Polish areas round Bialystock in the north and west and Lwoiv in the south. Moreover, the Russians offered close, friendly relations with Poland on the basis of*the recently-signed Soviet-Czech treaty of mutual assistance, which was itself modelled on the Anglo-Russian treaty of 19-12. Large Sacrifice Involved The territorial settlement thus proposed would involve a very large sacrifice, amounting to about half the territory possessed by Poland from 1920 to 1939, and about a third of the entire population of the Republic set up m 1919. As compensation, the Russians offer Poland German eastern territories, not precisely specified, but broadly defined as giving Poland adequate access to the Baltic. To accept; such an offer is not an easy decision for any Polish Cabinet to make, adds the British official wireless, still less a Cabinet which has been in exile for over four years. It is clearly the most critical step ever faced by a" Government placed in such an' unhappy position. Nevertheless, there are grounds for hope. AMERICA FAVOURABLE REQUEST FOR MEDIATION (Reed. 5.3.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 3 5 Mr. Roosevelt and the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, are reported to have decided to grant Poland's request tor British and American mediation in the boundary question between Russia and Poland, savs the United Press. The State Department has been in communication with Moscow on the question, states the Washington correspondent of the New York Times, since an attempt to mediate would be useless unless Russia was willing to permit Britain and America to sit in on her negotiations with the Polish Government. SOLDIERS' VOTES UNITED STATES PROBLEM WASHINGTON. Jan. 15 The House of Representatives Elections Committee, by a vote of seven to five, rejected all proposals for a uniform Federal ballot for members of the armed services in various parts of the world. The committee adopted modified measures, leaving the soldier vote problem to the States. Three Democrats and four Republicans combined to defeat the Federal ballot proposals, while five Democrats supported the Federal ballot. The chairman, Mr. Eugene Worlev (Democrat —Texas) announced his intention to carry the fight to the floor of the House. He said the committee's action meant that a majority of the 11,000,000 mem hers of the armed forces would not vote at the next election. "This action," lie said, "will injure their moral 6 more effectively than enemy bullets, bombs and propaganda." Army and Navy authorities told the committee .it was impossible to get State ballots to apply to any appreciable number of soldiers overseas under the varying systems of the 48 different States.