GROWING TENSION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 5

GROWING TENSION

POLAND AND LITHUANIA VIEW OF BRITISH PRESS. . EXAGGERATED REPORTS. [British Official Wireless.) Rugby, Nov. 28. Although the unsatisfactory relations winch have existed for some tune between Poland and Lithuania have undoubtedly developed ’ into a situation ot some tension, the view •generally of the British press is that despite undoubted dangers many of the reports received exaggerated this state of affairs The League Council, which meets next Monday, will take up consideration of the issues involved. The Lithuanian Government recently invoked Article 11 of the Covenant in reference to Polish actions during the schools' dispute last,month and now the Polish Government has decided to direct the League Council’s attention to the continuance of the so-called “state of war” between Lithuania and Poland—a condition of affairs which precludes normal diplomatie relations between the two members of the 'League. The Polish Government will request the League to use its influence to end this abnormal state of affairs. POLAND’S EXPLICIT DECLARATION In the meantime the Polish Government, a§ a means of dispersing current rumours, has explicitly declared that they have no intention of infringing' territorial independence and that they require onlv the establishment of friendly relations between the two countries British press comment urges the advisability upon the Governments concerned of maintaining discretion, both in action and word The situation is to be fully examined. LEAGUE COUNCIL TO EXAMINE QUESTION. (Received 29. 11.30 a.m.) [British Official Wireless.! Rugby, Nov. 28. The Foreign Secretary was asked to-day in the House of Commons whether his attention had been called to the grave position between Poland and Lithuania. Mr. G. Lockyer-Lampson. Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, replying, said: “The Government has watched with grave anxiety the grow, ing tension between Poland and Lithuania. They are however, relieved by the fact that the Council of the League of Nations is about to examine this question at Geneva and they trust that a settlement may result which will restore friendly illations between the two states NO CONFIRMATION OF ALARMIST RUMOURS. "The Government has no connrmntion of the alarmist rumours which have appeared m the press and is confident that neither Poland nor Lithuania will be so unwise as to take any rash action while deliberations of the League are pending. The Polish Government has. indeed, just assured the Powers represented on the Council of the League that they have no designs against Lithuania's political independence and territorial integrity and that they only desire the restoration of normal relations and the termination by Lithuania of the state of war which she maintains against Poland