SOVIET PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1920, Page 5

SOVIET PEACE.

TERMS WITH POLAND. MILITARY PROVISIONS. By Telegraph.—Prus Awn.—Copyright, Received August 27,11.45 p.m. London, August 26.. The Soviet's reply to the Allies is a long document of a propagandist character. It describes the Lucerne' 1 Note as a piece of propaganda directed against Bolshevik institutions, and as an act of interference with Ruesian affairs, Which justifies corresponding Soviet action. The reply describes the proposal for civic militia in Poland as a concession, inasmuch as it would be a supplementary armed force to the Polish army of 50,000, and suggests the attitude of the British Government is dictated by the view .that the workers must by nature be animated with the doctrine uf Bolshevism. The reply continues: "Although our interpretation of this point in our peace terms is thoroughly justified, we nevertheless are willing to remove this, the Only paint of divergence, in order to establish a full understanding regarding the terms of peace with Poland." The reply declaresj;hat the Soviet never Considered their terms as an ultimatum, and had always been Willing to disc Use them with Poland, with whom alone they were treating for peace. Therefore, any understandings which may be given, in this connection will be given to Poland alone. In view of Russia's earnest desire to attain to important results for the world's wclfave and peace, arising from peace with Britain, the Soviet is willing to inform the British Government that the Russian Government has resolved to make a conces> < on this point, and does not insist on the clause referring to the arming of a workers' civic militia in Poland, thus securing full agreement With Britain. The remainder of the reply is a defence of the Soviet against the charge of being an oligarchy, and the reply declares that all States which have a form of Government different from the Soviet are true oligarchies.—ReuterJService.