BORDER STATES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22785, 8 January 1944, Page 5

BORDER STATES

Russia’s Intentions Understanding Sought Moves By Britain And America By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, Jan. 6. “One of the most pressing and immediate questions is Russia’s intentions towards the border States,” said Mr Wendell Wlllkie in an article in the “New York Times.” "Our principal objective must now be to persuade Russia to accept and give guarantees for the general organisation in which we are both members, rather than to seek her protection by political and military control of adjoining territories.” Criticising this article, the Moscow newspaper “Pravda” has accused Mr Willkie of double dealing in American politics, and of attempting to create distrust of Russia among American voters. “Pravda” added: “The question of the Baltic States is an internal Russian one, in which Mr Willkie should not interfere. Russia knows how to deal with Poland, Finland and the Baltic States without Mr Willkie’s help.” Interpreted as Warning “The attack by ’Pravda’ on Mr Willkie is interpreted in Washington as an emphatic warning to Britain and America to keep their hands off Poland and other European countries whose borders the Red Army is now approaching,” states the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” "It is also seen as an indirect but significant notice that Russia intends to have the final say in matters affecting those countries. “Diplomats point out that if this intention were carried out it would mean that the Soviet would control the balance of power in Europe. It is informally predicted that if the old European system of buffer states is revived—the system which might be

restored if Russia becomes dominant in parts of Finland, the Baltic States, Czechoslovakia, and Poland—the United States might react violently away from European politics after the war. "It is no secret that Washington did not like the Russo-Czech Pact, which is regarded as out of sympathy with the over-all system of international security supported by Britain, America, Russia and China, and envisaged by the conferences in Moscow, Cairo and Teheran.” Little Time for Debate Broadcasting to Poland to-night, the Prime Minister, M. Stanislaw Mikolajczyk, told the Polish underground movement to strike with renewed force against the Germans and avoid friction with the Russians. “We would have preferred to meet the Soviet troops not simply as allies of our Allies fighting against the common foe but as our own Allies as well.” The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says M. Mikolajczyk staunchly upheld Polish rights, but was silent in his statement on the question of specific frontiers. Although the difficulties remain enormous and the problems are of many kinds, danger signals come from Germany as a corrective against any belief that there is much time left for debating. Neutral correspondents report that German hopes of Russian-Polish clashes and the ruthless Governor of Poland, Dr. Hans Frank, has offered in a public proclamation “a proper place” to Poland in the future family of European nations. Regarded as a Test Efforts are being made by the British and American Governments to produce an, understanding between the Polish Government and Russia, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” who adds that although it is not possible so far to make much headway,, a hope is constantly expressed in British circles that greater progress will be made in the near future. The Polish problem is regarded as a test case in matters relating to the settlement of Europe after the hostilities end. There certainly is no desire on the part of the British Government that the Polish Government should be forced to accept any settlement. British Ministers are anxious that the frontier question should be settled by friendly negotiations and to this end they are prepared to give all their assistance. The British reaction is that the only helpful feature of the Polish Government’s statement is that it does not close the door on the possibility of a negotiated settlement with Russia. Tire worst aspect is the virtual direction to the Polish underground authorities not to co-opcrate with the Russians unless or until there is a resumption of Polish-Soviet relations. Feelings of Patriots “Wolna Polska,” the organ of the Union of Polish Patriots in Russia, has published an important statement outlining a programme for the future of Poland, reports the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. "The main points,” says the correspondent, “are:— “(1) Thg extension of Poland’s strategic borders west as a protection against the Prussians. “(2) The western Ukraine and ByeloRussia are part of the Soviet Union. “(3) A Parliamentary democratic regime must be set up. “(4) All reactionary elements must be wiped out and land must be distributed to the peasants. “(5) AU Poles must unite, regardless of political creeds, with the exception of the reactionary and emigre elements abroad.” The newspaper adds: “The time has come for the Polish Government in London to come down to earth and give way to a new political line-up. as the Yugoslav Government has done. Tire initiative for changing Poland’s position in the world, and also in Poland itself, must be in the hands of the Poles themselves. The so-called London Government is incapable of showing initiative or wise action. It has condemned itself to political suicide and carried out the sentence itself.”