PACT NULLIFIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 8

PACT NULLIFIED

IN EVENT GF AGGRESSION BY EITHER PARTY REPORTED STATEMENTS BY RUSSIANS. GERMANY NOT AT LIBERTY TO ATTACK POLAND. (Received This Day. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The North American Newspaper Alliance. in a special despatch from Moscow, states that Russian officials emphasise that a clause is being inserted whereby the pact will be nullified in the event of either signatory attacking a third Power. The Russians want to indicate that the pact does not automatically give Hitler the opportunity for a policy of squeeze against Poland and also wish to dispel ideas that Germany is now at liberty to attack Poland.

COUNCIL OF LABOUR STAND AGAINST AGGRESSION. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 23. The National Council of Labour passed a resolution expressing its determination not to weaken collective resistance to German aggression. VON PAPEN’S MISSION HOPES OF WINNING OVER TURKEY. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) BERLIN. August 23. Herr von Papen is en route to Turkey where he hopes to wean Turkey from the Democratic front. The Nazis 1 consider that now there is every possibility of success. NO PANIC IN POLAND CONFIDENCE IN DEFENCES. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) WARSAW, August 23. British firmness is appreciated in Poland and there is a complete absence of panic. Cafes and restaurants are filled. There is every confidence in the adequacy of the anti-aircraft defences. LORD MAUGHAM’S VIEW CONDITIONS NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE THINK. EFFECT OF NON-AGGRESSION PACT. (Received This Day. 12.15 p.m.) OTTAWA, August 23. Lord Maugham (British Lord Chancellor) the only member of Cabinet absent from England, commented: “Conditions in Europe are not as bad as people think. The non-aggression pact is by no means an indication of close friendship. Russia is probably equally willing to sign similar pacts with a number of nations, including Great Britain.” ANXIETY IN ITALY POLES URGED NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ROME. August 23. There are few signs of military acti vity and a fervent desire to avoid war, is expressed in the newspapers, which continue to urge Poland not to commit suicide. DANZIG DEFENCES MILITARY PREPARATIONS. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) DANZIG, August 23. I Military preparations have been ac- I celcratc-d. Now trenches and barbed i wire entanglements have been estab-|i lished on the western border. 1