POLAND’S POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1939, Page 7

POLAND’S POLICY

PRESERVING THE BALANCE OF POWER PROGRESS OF COLONEL BECK’S TALKS. ALLIANCE WITH RUSSIA NOT DESIRED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, April 5. Colonel Beck met Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax in the Prime Minister’s room in the House of Commons at 5 p.m. yesterday and the conversations were resumed today.

There is the greatest official reticence regarding the progress of the talks. ■ It is understood that Colonel Beck made it clear that he was ready to conclude a pact for reciprocal guarantees on certain conditions, also that Poland was ready for close co-opera-tion with Rumania in strengthening the peace front. Colonel Beck urged the advisability of persisting with the efforts to include Hungary in the line up. though he admitted that it would be most difficult for Hungary to resist German pressure. Fie also argued against the inclusion of Russia in any alliance, and suggested that Danzig be removed from League of Nations control and placed under a commission of three, consisting of a Pole, a German and a neutral member, preferably a Dane.

Poland is unwilling to enter a general alliance for collective security. This was made clear in the Warsaw paper “Dobrywieczor,” which was quoted by all Polish radio stations lasi night as representing the official viewpoint.

“Poland’s traditional policy is the preservation of the balance of power,” says the paper. “It is Germany’s fault, not Poland’s, that this balance has been disturbed. Poland now wishes to restore it. but wants only bilateral treaties. England now realises this desire and understands Poland’s objections to co-operating with Russia against Germany and with Germany against Russia.” While the Poles fear that an alliance between Poland and Russia would exarcerbate German hostility, it is reported that Colonel Beck raised the point that a bilateral treaty between Britain and Russia would secure all the advantages of a grand alliance while avoiding its disadvantages. Uniformed Nazis, rioting in Danzig last night, smashed the windows of the offices of the Commissioner General and other Polish buildings and tore down Polish flags. TALKS RESUMED VISITS TO U.S.A. AND HUNGARIAN MINISTERS. COLONEL BECK LUNCHES WITH KING AND QUEEN. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day. 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, April 5. Colonel Beck lunched with their Majesties at Windsor Castle. He will resume his conversations with Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax this evening and will also see the United States and Hungarian Ministers.