Polish-British Relations in 1939

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1948, Page 5

Polish-British Relations in 1939

LONDON, August 6 In a Note to Britain, the terms of which have just been published in London, the Polish Government says that Britain failed to assist Poland against the German invasion in 1939, and asks that Britain should not concern herself with the relationship between the Polish and Soviet Governments. The Note repeats Poland’s objections to the decision reached bv representatives of Britain, the United States, France, and the Benelux countries on the future administration of Germany, and claims that this can be settled only by the Big Four. The Polish Note rejects the British assertion that the policy of the Soviet Government, supported by Poland, rendered the decisions made at the London six-Power conference unavoidable. and it complains that the administration of the British-Ameri-can combined zones in Germany is encouraging the return of “representatives of renascent German revisionism” and blocking democratic development. Poland reasserts her right to be consulted about German problems, and claims that her refusal to participate in the European Recovery Programme does not entitle the British Government to ignore these rights. The' Note says: “Poland would be grateful if Britain in connection with the European Recovery Programme, would be less concerned about the maintenance of good relations between Poland and the Soviet, as to which the Polish Government retains its exclusive competence.” Referring to British statements about events in 1939, the Note says that “British appeasement of Hitlerite Germany encouraged Hitler’s invasion of Poland, and it claims that while Poland was conducting “a lonely struggle against the overwhelming forces of the Hitlerite aggressor” she received no effective aid from her ally, Britain.