BIG PROBLEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 5

BIG PROBLEM

RUSSIA AND POLAND WENDELL WILLKIE ACCUSED OF DOUBLE-DEALING 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright* Recd. 6 p.m. New York, Jan. 6. “One of the most pressing immediate questions is Russia’s intentions towards the border States,” said Mr. Wendell Willkie in an article in the New York Times. “Our principal objective must now be to persuade Russia to accept and give guarantees to a general organisation in which we are both members, rather than seek her protection by political or military control of the adjoining territories.” Criticising the article. Pravda accused Mr. Willkie of double-dealing in American politics and attempting to create distrust of Russia among American voters, and added that the question of the Baltic States was an internal Russian one in which Mr. Willkie should not interfere. “Russia knows how to deal with Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States without IVfr. Willkie’s help,” it said. Pravda’s attack on ML Willkie is interpreted in Washington as an emphatic warning to Britain and America to keep their hands off Poland and other European countries the borders of which the Red Army is now’ approaching, says a New York Times correspondent. It. is also seen as an indirect but significant notice that Russia intends to have a final say in matters affecting those countries. U.S. May Leave Europe. Diplomats point out that if this intention were carried out. it would mean Soviet control of the balance of power in Europe. It is informally predicted that if the old European system of buffer States is revived—a « 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 general system of international security supported by Britain, America, Russia, and China, and envisaged by the conferences at Moscow, Cairo, and Teheran. r FOR UNDERSTANDING

ANGLO-AMERICAN EFFORTS

Recd. 6.30 p.m. London, Jan. 6. Efforts are being made by the British and American Governments to produce an understanding between the Polish Government and Russia, says the Daily Mail’s diplomatic correspondent. He adds that although it has not been possible so far to make much headway the 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 hostilities end. There is certainly 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 possibilitv of a negotiated settlement with Russia. Its worst, aspect is the virtual direction to the Polish underground authorities not to co-operate with the Russians unless, or until there is a resumption of Pojish-Soviet relations. POLES IN RUSSIA PROGRAMME FOR FUTURE London, Jan. 6. The journal Wolna Polska, organ of the Union of Polish Patriots in Russia has published an important statement outlining a programme for the future Poland, reports the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. The main points are:— (1) The extension of Poland’s strategic borders westward must be carried out 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 their land must be distributed to the peasants (5) All Poles must unite, regardless of their political creeds, with the exception of reactionary emigre elements abroad. The paper 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. The initiative for changing Poland’s nosition 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 the initiative in wise action. It has condemned itself to political suicide and has carried out the sentence on itself.”

“MUST AVOID FRICTION” PRIME MINISTER APPEALS TO PATRIOTS Recd. 11 p m. London, Jan. 7. Broadcasting to Poland last night, Prime Minister 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 a common foe, but as our own allies as well.” he said. The diplomatic correspondent of The Time£ says that M. Miko’ajczyk staunchly upheld Polish rights and was silent, as was his statement on the question of specific frontiers. Although the difficulties remain enormous and the problems are of many kinds, danger signals com? from Germany as a corrective against any belief that Ur re is much time left for debating. Neutral correspondents report German hop? l ' nf Russian-Polish clashes, and th? rulb’c-s Governor of Poland, Hen- Frank, offered in a public proclamation a a “proper place” to To’and i> the future family of '•'-■raaer.n nations.