THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1939. THE PEACEMAKERS IN POLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23918, 20 September 1939, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1939. THE PEACEMAKERS IN POLAND

The first surprise caused by the Russian invasion of Poland having had time to subside, speculation has become active as to what the effect of that step may be upon the continuance of the conflict of which that unfortunate country has been the storm centre. Of more or less inspired foreign comment there has been no lack. But an official s|atement ' issued by the British Government leaves, as was only to be expected, no room for doubt upon one crucial point. It has been to the effect that nothing that has occurred can make any difference to Britain’s determination, with the full support of her people, to fulfil her obligations to Poland, and to prosecute the war with all her energy until her object is achieved. Parenthetically, it is observed that the full implications of recent events are not yet apparent, but that in Britain’s view the Russian attack upon her ally, Poland, cannot be justified by the claims put forward by the Soviet. . To the German and Russian Governments this display of spirit on Britain’s part will not be welcome. They seem to have been comforting themselves with the thought that, with the Polish State bludgeoned out of existence, the spoils are merely awaiting a division among those in possession and. that no reasonable Power should, on reflection, think it worth while to attempt to disturb such a pleasant plan. The position certainly begins to bear a resemblance to that envisaged by Marshal Goering in a speech in which he indicated that the Allies could have peace if they agreed that there was nothing left for them to go on fighting about. There are indications that the German Government still hopes, particularly since the Russian advance on Poland, that Britain and France may leave Poland to her fate and to the destiny which the Berlin and Moscow Governments would magnanimously agree to arrange for her people. From Nazi official sources, apparently, the question is being put whether the Western Powers are ready to reconsider the situation “ in view of the disappearance of Poland.” A communique from Moscow has described the Russian troops as combining with those of Germany in the task of establishing peace in Poland and assisting her population to reconstitute their normal existence. Among various rumours of impending peace overtures has been one associating Signor Mussolini prominently with Herr Hitler and M. Stalin in a peace plan, one of the curious suggestions in connection with which is tfjat it would provide for the. early transfer of Nazi divisions and aircraft in great strength from Poland to the Italo-German frontier, seemingly with a view to the strengthening of. the hand of II Duce as a mediator. But as regards the flying of peace-kites the answer of the British Government to feelers of that kind is definite. The German and Russian Governments may have decided between them what shall happen to Poland and what parts of her territory shall be incorporated in their respective countries with due regard to the spirit of their non-aggression pact. The Moscow journal, Izvestia, has published a map, indicating the proposed new Polish boundaries on the Eastern The Soviet capital is being regaled with pictures of flower-bedecked Russian ■ troops hailed as “liberators” by t the peoples of White Russia and the Ukraine. But the Nazi-Soviet peacedream is doomed to frustration because Britain and France refuse to be diverted from .their war objective, namely, the maintenance of the independence of Poland and the safeguarding of the freedom and security of the smaller ' States of Europe, which are for the most part standing to arms and manning’their frontiers in apprehension at the present time. Any offer by Germany and Russia of peace terms involving the dismemberment of Poland may: be described as rejected in advance by the Allied Powers. And the terms in which Britain and France rpay address themselves to Russia should be extremely interesting.