ALLIES STAND ASIDE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2026, 12 August 1920, Page 3

ALLIES STAND ASIDE.

HOPES OF FREE DISCUSSION. (Renter) LONDON, Aug. 10. In the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. I). Lloyd George, replying to Mr Asquilh, said he bad just received from M. Kameneff the terms of the armistice and the peace preliminaries, which had been submitted at Minsk by the Russians, although M. Kameneff had added that these terms mjght be supplemented, but the details were of secondary moment. Following are the terms: — (1) The strength of the Polish armies must be reduced to 50,000 men, and the commands and administration of the army to an aggregate of 10,000 men. (2) Demobilisation to take place within one month. (3) All arms over such as may be required for the needs of the reduced army as well as for the civic militia shall be handed over to Soviet Russia. (4) All war industries must be demobilised. (5) No troops or war materials shall be allowed to come from abroad. (6) Facilities to be placed at the disposal of Russia for commercial transit to and from the Baltic. | (7) Free hand to be granted to the dependents of Polish soldiers kiled in the war. On the other hand, parallel with the Polish demobilisation, Russian and Ukrainian troops shall be withdrawn from the Polish front. Upon the determination of these operations the number of Russian troops on the Russian frontier line shall be considerably reduced, and fixed at a figure to be agreed upon. The armistice line shall be the status quo, but not further east than the one indicated in Lord Curzon's Note of July 20. The Polish army shall withdraw to a distance of 50 versts from that line, the zone between being neutral. Finally, the frontier of the independent State of Poland shall, in the main, be identical with the line indicated in Lord Curzon's Note of July 20, but additional territory shall be given to Poland on the East. Mr Lloyd George said that immediately on receipt of this telegram, and after consultation with his colleagues, he had comunicated the terms to Poland, France, and Italy. The Russian Government insisted on direct negotiations with the Polish Government. They were entitled to direct negotiations, and having taken that course, he was of opinion that it would be unfair, when the delegates from both sides were meeting, to express any opinion which might embarrass the discussions.

WHERE AMERICA STANDS. ALLIED DECLARATION WANTED. (A. & N'.Z.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 10. The State Department has published a Note regarding the Polish situation, stating that the United

Slates desires an autonomous Poland, I and does not take exception to the! armistice negotiations between' Russia and Poland. Tlic United States will not participate in these! negotiations since it tears that they may lead to the recognition of the! Soviet Government, and the settlement of the Russian problem upon a basis of dismemberment of Russia.) The United States will, therefore, welcome atY Allied, declaration that > the true boundaries of Russia, excepting Finland, Poland, and part of Armenia, will be safeguarded. The Note, which was a reply to Italy, who had requested an outline of the United States' attitude towards Poland, points out that the United Stales, not wishing the dismemberment of Russia, has consistently refused to recognise the Baltic States, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The Note adds: "The United States cannot undertake any relations with the Soviet Government, since the latter does not represent the Russian people, and openly advocates the stirring-up of revolution in other countries," and concludes: "A declaration . safeguarding Russian boundaries would negate the Soviet appeal to the spirit of Russian nationalism and cause the Russian people to turn upon the Bolsheviks."