RIGHTS GRANTED TO RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 5

RIGHTS GRANTED TO RUSSIA

TERMS OF PACT WITH LITHUANIA FORMS OF GOVERNMENT NOT AFFECTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 12, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The Russo-Lithuanian mutual assistance treaty, which has been signed, provides for the transfer of the city of Vilna and the Vilna district to Lithuania, says the official news agency in Moscow. The treaty is valid for 15 years. It grants Russia the right to maintain land and air forces of strictly limited strength on Lithuanian territory. The treaty does not affect sovereign rights, forms of government or economic and social systems. Each country agrees not to participate in any alliance or coalition against the other. The Germans who are being evacuated from the Baltic are most indignant, especially as they believe that their lands will be occupied by the Bolshefor whom they have a fierce hatred, says a message from Copenhagen. ESTONIAN CABINET RESIGNS ARMY CHIEF TO GO TO MOSCOW (Received October 12, 1.30 a.m.) TALLINN, October 11. . The Estonian Cabinet has resigned. It is understood that the new Premier will be Professor Ulouts who participated in the Soviet-Estonian negotiations in Moscow. General Laidoner, Chief of the Estonian Army, has accepted Marshal .Klement Voroschilov’s invitation to visit Moscow. BRITISH WAR AIMS AND INDIA DEFINITION ~OF POSITION SOUGHT

(British Official Wireless)

(Received October 11, 11.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 11.

A message from Delhi states that Congress passed a resolution by 188 votes to 58 demanding Britain to declare her war aims, and also condemning Nazi aggression. The resolution seeks a British declaration of how her war aims will apply to. India.

The resolution continued that Congress did not wish precipitately to decide against war. On the contrary it wished to give Britain every opportunity of defining her position. If it was a war for freedom and democracy, India must be given independence, based on the recognition of the rights of all minorities. Congress opposed imperialist wars and the dominion of one country over another. N.Z. RECRUITS IN LONDON LONDON, October 10. In the presence of the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) 100 New Zealanders underwent medical examination at the Adelphi dress-ing-rooms, three New Zealand doctors officiating. The men assembled in a squad at New Zealand House and marched to the Adelphi. The percentage of passes is excellent. The officials expect 300 enlistments by Thursday. Most of the volunteers are young men who have been working in England hoping to make a career but some are rolling-stones who happened to be in England at the outbreak of the war.

The age-limit is 21 to 35 years, though Great War veterans up to 40 years of age may be accepted. The men will go into camp at the end of the month.