FIRST EDITION POLISH SITUATION

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160722, 7 August 1920, Page 7

FIRST EDITION POLISH SITUATION

BRITAIN’S NOTE TO SOVIET NO REPLY RECEIVED. POSITION BECOMING VERY CRITICAL. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Reuter.—August 6, 1 p.m. LONDON, August 5. In the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd George stated that the Government had not yet received a reply to the telegram to the Soviet of July 29th. He read a telegram to the Soviet stating, that it insisted on peace conditions being settled between Poland and Russia to the exclusion of other Powers, fhe basis ou which it was proposed to conduct negotiations in London would disappear, and the project for the Conference would fall to the ground; also. If the Sosiet took advantage of the delay to continue their advance into Ethnographical Poland, the Govern m-ent would be driven to the conclusion that the Soviet did not intend to respect the liberty and independence of Poland, and the situation contemplated in the Government’s telegram to Tchitcherin of July 20fh would have arrived. He added that he and Mr Sonar Law yesterday interviewed Ram cnefE and Krassin, and made it deaf that the Sonet’s, conduct had necessarily raised the suspicion that it was insincere in professing a desire for peace, and in declaring their intention to respect the liberty and independence of Poland, adding that that suspicion would only be removable by the inunefliiate conclusion of a fair armistice. In view of the invasion of ethnographical Poland, the Government would take effective steps to remove to the transmi&don of mill tary supplies to Poland from Danzig. In view oL the critical situation. Mf I.lovd George refrained from making a furCher statement, but promised, if the Government's suspicions were confirmed, that lie would make a full statement on August 9th in regard to furthei naval and military steps which might b« necessary. The British Note to the Soviet mad® it wear that ;i the Soviet Government, despite its repeated declarations, would rot he content with-the withdrawal of the Polish armies from Russia, on condition of a mutual armistice, but intended to take action hostile to Poland in Poland’s own territory, the British Government and its Allies would feel bound to assist Poland to defend her existence with all the means at their disposal.