BORDER CROSSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 3

BORDER CROSSED

ENTRY INTO POLAND PATRIOTS TO AID RUSSIANS HOUR OF LIBERATION NEAR RUGBY, Jan. 5. The Polish Government in London has issued a statement regarding the Russian entry into Poland. The entry is recorded as another proof of the breaking down of German resistance, foreshadowing the inevitable military defeat of Germany. " It fills the Polish nation with hope that the hour of liberation is drawing near,” the statement says, and recalls that Poland was the first to take up the German challenge, and has fought against the invaders for over four years inside and outside the country. Poland has not produced a single quisling or accepted any form of compromise collaboration with the aggressor. The statement goes on: “ The Polish nation, therefore, is entitled to expect full justice and redress as soon as it is liberated from enemy occupation. The first condition of such justice is the earliest re-establishment of Polish sovereign administration in the liberated territory of the Republic of Poland, and the protection of the life and property of Polish citizens. The Polish Government, as the only legal steward and spokesman' of the Polish nation recognised by pledges at home and abroad, as well as by Allied and free Governments, is conscious of Poland’s contribution to the war, and is responsible for the fate of the nation. “It affirms its indestructible right to independence confirmed by the principles of the Atlantic Charter, common to all United Nations, and by binding international treaties. The provisions of those treaties, based on the free agreement of the parties and not on the enforcement of the will of one side to the detriment of the other, cannot be revised by accomplished fact. The conduct of the Polish nation in the course of the present war has proved it has never recognised and will never recognise solutions imposed by force. Relations with Russia “ The Polish Government expects that the Soviet Union, sharing its views as to the importance of future friendly relations between the two countries in the interests of peace and with the view of preventing German revenge, will not fail to respect the rights and interests of the Polish Republic and citizens. Acting in that belief the Polish Government instructed the underground authorities in Poland on October 27, 1943, to continue, and *o intensify resistance against the German invader, to avoid all conflict with Soviet armies entering Poland in the battle against the Germans, and to enter into co-operation with Soviet commanders in the event of a resumption of Polish-Soviet relations.

“If a Polish-Soviet agreement such as the Polish Government had declared itself willing to conclude, had preceded the crossing of the Polish frontier by the Soviet forces, such agreement would have enabled the underground Polish Army to co-ordinate its action against the Germans with the Soviet military authorities. The Polish Government still considers such an arrangement highly desirable. “At this crucial moment, the importance of which for the course of the war, and for the outcome in Europe is evident to everyone, the Polish Gov-\ ernment issues the above declaration, confident in final victory and in the triumph of the just principles for which the United Nations stand.” Authorities in British circles regard the declaration as a useful contribution to the general war effort of the United Nations. Final Settlement with Enemy Prominent Poles in London pointed out that Russia’s entry into Poland and the powerful Polish underground movement could best be harmonised if official diplomatic relations between Poland and Russia were restored. The Polish Government is expected to issue a public statement shortly calling on Poles to rise for a final settlement with the enemy. The Polish Cabinet held a three-hour meeting yesterday without reaching an agreement on the form, of statement. Britain and the United States are believed to have urgently counselled the Poles to issue emphatic instructions to the Polish underground movement to aid the Red Army. According to the London correspondent of the New York newspaper P.M., the Polish ‘Government has drafted a manifesto requesting the establishment of a sovereign Polish Government in the sectors of Poland as and when liberated.