BRITAIN AND POLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN AND POLAND

PERMANENT AND RECIPROCAL PACT TO BE SIGNED Mutual Assistance Agreed Upon IF INDEPENDENCE OF EITHER THREATENED By Telegraph.—-Press Association • -Copyright. LONDON, April 6. “Britain and Poland are prepared to enter into an agreement of a permanent and reciprocal character to replace the present temporary unilateral assurance given by Britain to Poland.” This statement was made by Mr Neville Chamberlain in the House of Commons yesterday. The Prime Minister added: “Pending the completion of the permanent agreement the Polish Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, gave an assurance that the Polish Government would consider itself under an obligation to render assistance to Britain under the same conditions as those contained in the temporary assurance given by Britain to Poland. “The permanent agreement will be designed to assure Britain and Poland of mutual assistance in the event of direct or indirect threat to the independence of either,” went on Mr Chamberlain. The Prime Minister said he recognised that certain matters, including a more precise definition of the various ways in which the necessity for such assistance might arise, required further examination before the agreement could be completed.

“It is understood,” continued Mr Chamberlain, “that the above arrangenents should not preclude either Government from making arrangements with other countries in general interested in the consolidation of peace.” In reply to questions Mr Chamberlain said that the existing Franco-Pol-ish agreement was .almost identical with the contemplated Anglo-Polish pact. The British Government intended to continue the consultations with other Governments. It would be misleading to name the Governments with which the British Government was consulting and it did not follow that they were the only ones the British Government intended to approach. Lord Halifax intended to keep in close touch with Russia. The United States had also been kept fully-' informed. While declining to commit himself to a pledge of triangular staff conversations between Britain, France, and Poland at an early date, Mr Chamberlain said that the House might rest assured that, when the agreement was completed, the Governments would take all the steps necessary to make it effective. Commenting on the Anglo-Polish talks, “The Times” says that discussion of the Danzig situation revealed that Poland is not disposed to surrender any of her vital interests. The Poles have been given a clear indication of what Britain regards as vital to British interests in western Europe and the Mediterranean and what the British are prepared to defend in south-east Europe. It seems also that there has been a hint that Poland will not object to closer Anglo-Russian contacts. Britain explained her offer to Rumania, in which connection Rumania is conversing with her Balkan neighbours.

“DIE CAST” COMMENT BY NAZI OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN POLAND SHOULD NOT FORGET TREATY WITH GERMANY. PROPOSALS FROM BERLIN REJECTED. Hv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. BERLIN, April . 6. The official spokesman stated today: "The die is cast. Poland should not forget that the Polish-German nonaggression treaty rests on mutual cooperation.” Talk of denunciation of this treaty and also of the Anglo-German naval treaty has been revived. It is authoritatively stated here that, before going to London, Colonel Beck rejected a three-point settlement, which Germany proposed, including the cession of Danzig. Other points in Germany’s proposal were that Poland should allow Germany to build a motor road across the Corridor and that an immediate resumption should be made of the negotiations to settle minority questions. It is stated by Government sources that Germany asked Poland for a reasonable and peaceful settlement on these lines, but that Colonel Beck’s reply was that he was going to London. Poland, it is stated, has now linked herself consciously with the aggressive. anti-German encirclement movement. Germany is not likely to denounce he Polish-German treaty of 1934, but as Herr Hitler emphasised, when one party to an agreement infringes the spirit of it, the agreement is null and void. GERMAN CLAIMS. DEFINED FOR FIRST TIME. By Telegraph—Press Assnriat I >n- -Conyri ’hf BERLIN. April 7. The Press warns Poland against walking into "London’s trap” by denarlin rr from the course laid down by Marshal Pilsudski. The "Deutsche Algemeine Zietung” says Poland instead of supporting Germany’s attempt to creale a basis for a fair end secure peace has answered it —under pressure from + he British war politician* —with partial mobilisation. The official “VoMkiseher Boobachffir” in a leader defines Germany’s claims on Poland for the first time. "The Reich desires nothing but the return of a *mal] centralised area inhabited entirely by Germans and a free ppeegerp tn ibo north-east.” it says. “These w'sbnq a>-p D ron n r mid modest.”

RETURN TO WARSAW \ ■ 1 COLONEL BECK OPTIMISTIC. PROSPECTS OF PERMANENT COLLABORATION. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) 1 LONDON, April 7. Colonel Beck has left for Warsaw. He ’ said the position while he was in England was made easier by the fact that I there was not the slightest doubt of 1 the clear intentions of both governI ments.'Both countries were inspired by : anxiety to maintain peace and achieve. - conciliation, while taking account of the interests of all countries at the 1 same time it was felt that it was their 1 right to declare their ideals and soli- ■ darity as by* Mr Chamberlain’s clear and outspoken declarations in the : House of Commons. “I’m optimistic ■ about the future and the possibility of 1 permanent and stable Anglo-Polish ■ collaboration,” he said. Questioned about German reactions. > Colenel Back said Poland would not 1 contract obligations contrary to those ► existing. ............... i ; TREATMENT OF JEWS j REQUEST BY COLONEL BECK. i INTERNATIONAL EFFORT. , By Telegraph—Press Association—Conyrieht. ■ LONDON, April 6. ; The Foreign Office issued a statement ’today that Colonel Beck ex- ’ pressed a desire that the international effort for the treatment of the Jewish problem should be extended to the Polish Jews, who should have their due share of any opportunity for settlement. Colonel Beck also drew attention to Rumania’s interest. The Government assured Colonel Beck that it fully appreciated the situation and was ready to examine the proposals with Poland and Rumania. RUMANIA SEEKS PEACE BUT DETERMINED TO DEFEND INDEPENDENCE. MINISTER MEETS COLONEL BECK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 6. The Rumanian Minister in London. Dr Tilea, who has returned to his post, issued a statement in which he said that Rumania seeks peace, but is determined to defend the independence of her frontiers if necessary by arms. The nation enthusiastically welcomed the decision. Peasants and townspeople are flocking to the army. Colonel Beck conversed with Dr Tilea, who subsequently had a long conversation with Lord Halifax at 9 p.m. Colonel Beck later left for Portsmouth to spend a day with the fleet on its Channel exercises. TRADE AGREEMENT FRUITS OF MR HUDSON’S VISIT TO WARSAW. MANY DIFFICULTIES REMOVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 6. In the course of his statement in the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said that Mr Hudson Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Oversea* Trade, while in Warsaw, was able to clear up a number of difficulties concerning the Anglo-Polish trade agreement and to discuss the development of Pol’sh industrial equipment. Mr Hudson also obtained the Soviet’s consent to the opening in London of negotiations for a new agreement. A further result of Mr Hudson’s tour, said Mr Chamberlain, would be early visits to London of industrial missions - from Sweden and Finland with a view to increasing British exports.