SOVIET RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 5

SOVIET RUSSIA

POLISH POLICY OF WAR

BRITISH ATTITUDE EXPLAINED

NO RESPONSIBILITY TAKEN

By Telegraph-Prcsa Association-Copyright (llec. May 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 20. In tho course of an explanation to the House o£ Commons of the attitude of the British Government towards Russia and Poland, Mr. Bonar Law disclaimed any desire to make war on Russia. He maintained that tho kind of Government which tho Soviet professed wps contrary to human nature and could not last. The way to create ai reasonable situation in Russia was to allow the Russians to work out their own salvation. It was by opening up trade, much more than bv armaments that the Bobhevik Government would be put down. Dealing with Poland, he said that the 'little ammunition which had been given to Poland as an ally was intended, to enable, the Poles to defend themselves against an attack by the'' Bolsheviks which was threatened in. October, 1919, but Poland was told that Britain would not take the responsibility of advising peace or war, although tlie opinion or tho British Government was against war. Mr. Lloyd George, wlio waa supported by the Cabinet, informed the Polish Foreign Minister that Britain dil not desire to give. Poland tho slightest oncourasssaent to pursue a policy of war, because it would incur responsibilities which; could not bo discharged. Mr. Lloyd George made it clear that ths principal • difficulty was that the Polish army had advanced far beyond thj racial Boundaries, but said that if Poland made a. real attempt at an equitable peace and tho Bolsheviks refused to agree Britain was bound to assist Pol-and.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter,

PURSUIT OF THE POLES BOLSHEVIKS CLAIM SUCCESSES. (Reo. May 23, .11 p.m.) London, Jfar A Bolshevik wireless communique states: "The pursuit of the retreating enemy continues in tho Polotsk region. We occupied a number of villages oastward of Ihuman after fierce fighting. Aeroplanes bombed the enemy positions and assisted our crossing of the Beregina River.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH MINERS TJRGB WAR SHOULD END. (Reo. May 23, 11 p.m.) London, May 21. The Miners? Federation executive haa urged the Government to use its influence to end the Polish war. It decided to co-operate with tho political Labour movement to demand that the Govern-, ment should cease to support Poland.— Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAILWAYMEN TO TAKE ACTION. (Rec. May 23, midnight.) London, May 21. Tho executive of the National Union of Railwaymen has instructed its members to Tefuse to handle any, material intended to assist Poland against Russia -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BOLSHEVIK EMISSARIES IN LONDON INFORMATION FOR SUPREME • COUNCIL. (Rec. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 20. The Australian Press Association learns that three Bolshevik representatives, who are at present in London in connection with the resumption of trade relations, are there merely to 6upply information to the Supreme Council regarding Russia's supplies. Later the Council will approach Russia, with which there are no diplomatic relations, so they can only communicate by wireless. Definite negotiations will commence when complete satisfaction has been received with reference to : the fate of the remnant of Denikin's army, the release of prisoners under tho O'Grady agreement, the release of Allied prisoners in Siberia, and assurances regarding -the Bolshevik policy in Persia,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. japanesFqperations TROOPS LANDED AT NIKOLAEVSK. (Rec. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) Honolulu, May 21. According to a dispatch from Tokio, tho War Office has announced that Japanese troops landed at Nikolaev6k on May 15 to begin operations against the Bolsheviks. It is understood that Japan will begin negotiations with Russia for tho creation of a buffer State in Si-beria.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BOLSHEVIKS CAPTURE THE TOWN. (Rec. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 20. Americans who escaped from the icebound port of Nikolaovsk state that the Bolsheviks too]:; possession of the town and made prisoners of all the Russian soldiers and bourgeois, slaughtering two hundred of them who were buried under the ice on the River Amur. When the JcpaneßO commander protested, the Reds demanded the disarmament of the Japanese garrison. This the Japanese commander refused and fighting commenced. The Japanese took refuge in tho Consulate, which caught fire. The desperate Japanese, seeing no hope of rescue and being pledged not to surrender,, deliberately plunged into tho flames crying "Banzai." Tho victims included the Japanese Consul, liis wife and two children. A Japanese force has been sent to Nikolaevsk to rescue the remaining residents, but it is feared that the Reds have killed them all.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '

IN ARMENIA RAILWAY CENTRE IN RED HANDS. (Rec. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, May 21. . Colonel Haskell, the Allied High. Commissioner in Armenia, has advised the State Department .that the Bolsheviks lu.ve control of Alexandropol, tho Armenian railway centre. Railway travel is completely tied up in Armenia. The Bolsheviks control the Baku oil supplies. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ADVANcTF PERSIA A BOLSHEVIK PROMISE BROKEN. (Rcc. May 23, 11.40 p.m.) London, May 22. The latest Caspian advices show that the Bolsheviks' are breaking their promise not to advance beyond Enzeli. Additional troops have been landed at Ghazin, on the South Caspian coast, and seized the interior communications. The Reds are now apparently encircling Resht, to which the British retired from Enzeli—"Tlie Times." HELP EXPECTED PROM- BRITAIN. (Rcc. May 23, 11.40 p.m.) • Paris, May 22. -■The Persian Foreign Minister, in an interview, declared that Persia was entitled to expect help from Britain, though the claim was not based on any contractual obligation. Tho Bolshevisms of Persia was not feared, but undo- the Red cloak tribal marauding and brigandage was likely to find cover and produce anarchy, in which Britain's interests would be seriously threatened.— "The Times."

BRITISH SYMPATHISERS

(Reo. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 21. The "Daily Express" publishes documents captured from an aeroplane which was flying to Russia and which was forced to descend in Lottlund. Tho signatures to an address from Britisli Soviet supporters to lenin include tiiat of Sylvia Pankhuret. Another document alludes to the payment of money to Britisli sympathisers, while auother contains <v request for pearls for Franco and sapphires for England.—Aua.-N.Z. Cablo Men,