BRITAIN DETERMINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23918, 20 September 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN DETERMINED

OBLIGATIONS TO POLAND

FULL SUPPORT OF COUNTRY

(British Official Wireless) ' • T (United Press Association) ." (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) : A,;'; / v-.V’v.'• .V • i ‘ RUGBY, Sept. 18. The following statement was authorised for issue in London tonight regarding the Soviet action in Poland:—“Britain has considered the situation created by the attack upon Poland ordered by the Soviet.', This attack was made upon Britain’s ally at a moment when she- was prostrate in. the face of the overwhelming forces against her by Germany, and cannot, in Britain’s view, be justified by the arguments put forward by the Soviet. .’ “The full implication of these events is not yet apparent, but Britain takes the opportunity of stating that nothing that occurred can make any difference to Britain’s determination, with the full support of the country, to fulfil her obligations to Poland and to prosecute the war with all energy until her object is achieved.” J “ Russia’s policy,”,says the Daily Telegraph, “ is as imponderable as ever,” and after discussing the possibilities in detail it adds: “ Whatever the future may hold, two things are, certain.. The presence of a powerful Russian army on his eastern frontier will immobilise a" large part of Hitler’s, forces at a fime when they are needed in .the west, and Polahd,-brutally stricken to earth, will rise again.” , ) <■ WARSAW NpT BOMBARDED YET ; A communique, from Berlin states that the,; Polish campaign is approaching the end, Lublin has been conquered, and Lwpv/ (Lemberg) is ’encircled; The High 'Command at Warsaw: failed to send negotiators to arrange evacuation' before the city was stormed. The bombardment of Warsaw has not been begun, as was reported. Civil war, has broken out in the capital, one of the groups wanting tp surrender, wanting to carry on. The. Germans are awaiting the outcome. . ■ .; The German armies resumed the advance on Warsaw and cap? tpred Drohobycz, the centre of. Polish oil production. ITALY'S DIFFICULT POSITION The Rome correspondent of the New York Times says Italy is so steeled in her neutrality that even the Russian invasion of Poland is without the slightest outward effect. Yet it is certain that it has added to the country’s grave anxieties with regard to her ability, to remaim neutral, for it now seems clear that the war will quickly, reach the'Balkans. Already it has been authoritatively, reported that the Germans are, massing troops on , the border, and no one will be surprised if Rumania is invaded Very shortly. It is now taken for granted that, England and France will declare war on Russia. , It is also felt that Turkey will find the gravest difficulties in maintaining her affiance with England.- It is highly doubtful if even the Russian-German invasion of with the Soviet seizing Bessarabia, will alter Italy’s firm decision to istay out of the war. v . ' , , The New York Times Rome correspondent says that if and whert Jugoslavia and Hungary are brought-into’ the ever-widening war flood Italy's position will be extraordinarily difficult. It’ is against every historical tradition that Italy should countenance German-Russian penetration of the Balkans, but the fact remains that the Axis is still in official existence, and it is. inconceivable that Italy would attack Germany now. Italians feel that the Russian move represents'another bitter blow to the Allies, and do not see how they are going to wage war against the Soviet. They see virtually the whole European Continent, except France, either warring w ; ith the Allies or helplessly neutral, and believe the Allies are now going to face the gigantic, if not hopeless,* task of blockading the whole'Continent. - " . . . , ‘ , THE POLISH PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President Moscicki, before his departure from Poland, thus addressed the Poles: “ Citizen?! : At a -time when pur array’ With indomitable courage, has struggled against the enemy’s overwhelming power Russia invaded our land in violation of her covenants and morality. We are facing not-for the first time in our history an invasion from the east and west. Poland, allied with England and France, has battled for the rule of law against lawlessness and will emerge victorious. With heavy hearts We have decided to transfer the seat of Government to a place reassuring sovereignty and opportunity to safeguard the interests of State. I am sure you Will preserve through all your ordeals the spirit, dignity and pride which earned you the admiration of the world. Almighty God will vindicate the justice of our cause.” RUSSIAN AND NAZI TROOPS MEET The official radio has announced that the Russian and Nazi troops who met at Brest-Litovsk exchanged diplomatic courtesies and began negotiations in order to define the respective zones of occupation. • Meanwhile the Helsinki correspondent of the London Times, reports the almost unimpeded advance -of Russian troops into'White Russia. ■ Russian bombers- destroyed the Polish border - station pt Sniatyn. The Moscow correspondent of the Daily'Telegraph states that the Polish Ambassador was ordered to leave Russia immediately for Rumania with his entire staff. The Moscow radio reports that Russian troops are being deliriously welcomed by the populations of White Russia and the Ukraine. The civilians are greeting the soldiers with flowers. Political commissars have begun organising' meetings in order to tell the people what a wonderful life Soviet citizens The troops everywhere are hailed as liberators by the poverty-stricken people. A Moscow communique states .that Russian troops have occupied in the north Sventsiany,' Lida, Novogrudok, Oryla (on the Niemeh River), Slonim, Vokovysk, Yaglevichi (on the railway ■ between Minsk and Brest-Litovsk). In the south they occupied Sarny, Lutsk, Sanislavov, Garlich, Krasne and Buchach. Advancing columns are approaching Lwow and Wilno. , , INSPIRED STATEMENT CONCERNING PARTITION ' The German press to-day published an inspired statement disclosing a six-point German-Russian agreement for the partition of Poland. The Governments agreed on the, following;— ■ ■ 1. The Polish State, from the moment of. its creation after, tht world war. lacked the natural conditions of Statehood. 2. The Polish State collapsed through its own incompetence. 3. Germany and Russia must reorganise the various nationalities in Poland by “ creating corporate bodies of Europe.” 4. The task of Germany and Russia is to establish a compiet® new settlement of their spheres of influence, assuring peace and order. ' • ' • 5. The British and French claims that they should assist Poland have been proved groundless, and their alliances with Poland no longer exist. . ', . ' ,>;V 6. Britain and France are now confronted with the question, What is their objective in fighting Germany? Well-informed sources in London believe that Germany will shortly propose peace tq Britain and France on the basis of a fait accompli in Poland. Official Nazi sources, while declaring that they are not awar® of any concrete proposals to Britain to end the European war, say that “the question naturally arises if Western Powers are ready to reconsider the situation in view of the disappearance of Poland.”