THE RUSSIAN TERMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1920, Page 2

THE RUSSIAN TERMS.

SUPPLIED TO BRITISH PREMIER

(Reuter’s Telegram.)

(Received This Day at 12.30, a.m.) LONDON, August IQ.

In the Commons, Hon, Aisquith said he regretted the Premier’s speech had not contributed,.to the removal of the difficulties of maintaining peace. The House should have an opportunity, before Britain took any warlike steps of reviewing the whole situation, Hon. Lloyd George replying, said he had just received from Kameneff the terms of the armistice and peace preliminaries which were submitted at Minsk by the Russians. Although Ka>meneff added that these terms might he supplemented, hut the details were of secondary moment, the following are the'terms—Firstly, the strength of the Polish armies must be reduced by one annual contingent up to fifty thousand men, and cotnmands apd administration army to an aggregate of ten thousand men; secondly, demobilisation to take place within one month; thirdly, arms over such as may h e required for the needs of the reduced army, as well as for civic military shall be handed over to the Soviet- Russia; fourthly, all war industries be demobilised; fifthly no troops or war materials will be allowed to come from abroad; sixthly facilities to be placed at file disposal of Russia for commercial transit to and from the Baltic; seVen%; free laij4 td be granted to dependents of f’olisli sob fliers killed in the war.

On .the other hand, ‘parallel with demobilisation, Russian and ‘Ukranpm troops shall be withdrawn from the Polish front. "Upon the determination of these operations the pujnber of RusC siaii troops on the Russian fropfier 'liho shall be' considerably reduced to be fixed at a figure to be agreed upon. The armistice line to be status quo, but liqt further east than one indicated in Lord durzou-’s note qf 20th. July. Thp Polish army shall withdraw to a distance of fifty vergta from that line, zone, between being neutral. Finajljft the frontier of the Independent state of Poland shall in the main he identical with the line indicated in Lord Curzon’s note of 20th. July, but addition fil ferritory shall be given to Poland on the East-,

Hon. Lloyd George said immediately on receipt of tliis telegram after consul; tation with liis colleagues, he had communicated the terms to Poland, Prance and Italy. The Russian Government in; piste d on direct negotiations with the Polish Government. They were entitled to direct negotiations. Having taken that course he was of opinion it would be unfair when the delegates from both sides were meeting to express | an opinion which might embarrass disJ missions.