RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1920, Page 3

RUSSIAN MIX-UP.

BRITISH OBJECTIONS

(By Electric Telegraph—Cooyrigm.)

LONDON, Sept. 2. Mr D. J. Balfour has replied to M. Kamenoff’s Note on behalf of Russia, The reply expressed gratification that the Soviet has renounced its demand for the creation of a Polish Workers’ Militia. . _ > Mr Balfour denes the British Government ever recognised that the limitation of the Polish Arm{/ to fifty thou sand men was a just peace condition.' The British Government, he says, merely declared this condition would not be considered a sufficient ground for active British intervention. Mr Balfour says he regards the Soviet’s statement to the effect that the proposed civic militia was a concession to Poland as being evidently only to disguise the true character of Soviet diplomacy. Certainly that diplomacy requested an explanation, owing to the Soviet’s concealment of the intended nature of the Polish civic militia, which at its adjournment was anxious about the Polish situation, had separated urnder the impression that Poland neither lose her legitimate frontier. The British Parliament and country were L certanly deceived. The reasons of the Soviet proposals might be conjecture , but they had not been’avowed. Dealing with the Russian suggestion that the British suggestions in this con*? nection were due to the fact that the civic militia must be composed of workmen, Mr Balfour declares:- That is an error. The objections would have been as strong if it were to be composed of millionaires.’’

POLAND’S REPLY TO AMERICA. WASHINGTON, Somber 1. It is understood that, Poland in replying to the United States Note, advising that Polish armies should not advance bevond the ethnographic boundaries, pointed out that strategic considerations must govern the extent ot the Polish advance since it would be extremely dangerous otherwise especially if an unsatisfactory guarantee were obtained from the Soviet. Poland expressed satisfaction at United States attitude towards Poland but declared Russia failed to stop at the ethnographic boundaries in the advance on Warsaw.

WRANGEL DEFEATS SOVIETS. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 3., General Wrangel telegraphs The whole Peninsular of Taman has been occupied by us. We have defeated a Red Division, taking 3000 prisoners. .

GERMAN YAND SOVIET. ' BERLIN, Sept. ~ Herr Simons, Foreign Minister, in the Reichstag, denied there was any secret compact with Russia. Germany, he said, refused to recognise Wrangel. She held that while the Soviet holds the reins of power in Russia, it constituted the de facto Government. Germany would not support any power warring with the Soviet. LOCOMOTIVES FOR RUSSIA. LONDON, Sept. 2. The German iron manufacturers have agreed to support Russia with a hundred locomotives. POLAND AND AMERICA. WASHINGTON, Sept. 3. The recent Polish and American Notes, which have been published, confirm the press summaries previously made. Poland expresses her satisfaction of the United States’ promise of its support for Poland. Poland declares) St would be impossible for her forces not to advance beyond Poland’s exact boundaries, since the Russians did not respect them, and as to do so would constitute a danger to Poland.

A POLISH SUCCESS. LONDON, Sept. 3. s A Polish official communique claims to have annihilated General Budcny’s* army in South-east Poland/which consisted almost entirety of cavalry, was one of the most efficient units of the Red armies. NO SATURDAY WORK. MELBOURNE, Sept. 3. A meeting of the Iron Trades Em ployers Association has. decided that any employee absenting himself from work on Saturday shall not be re-engaged on Monday, unless he .agrees to observe a forty-eight hours week. A FAREWELL. LONDON, September 2. New Zealand and Australian journalists gave a farewell luncheon to Sir T MacKenzie., Hon. A. M. Myers was present. „