BRITAIN & POLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN & POLAND

AGREEMENT OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE CONCLUDED FORMALLY IN LONDON. BASED ON PROVISIONAL UNDERSTANDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON. August 25. Viscount Halifax and the Polish Ambassador have signed an agreement for mutual assistance between the United Kingdom and Poland. The pact consists of eight clauses, making effective the provisional agreement reached during Colonel Beck's visit to England and announced in the House of Commons on April 6. LEADING DETAILS BOTH GOVERNMENTS EXPRESS SATISFACTION. ASSURANCES OF MILITARY CO-OPERATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY. August 25. A Foreign Office statement says: "IL is a source of lively satisfaction to both Governments that negotiations for the present agreement have been so speedily and satisfactorily concluded.'' The preamble explains that the agreement, which consists of eight articles, arises out the desire of the two parties to place on a permanent basis the collaboration resulting from assurances of mutual assistance of a defensive character which they have already exchange. The text of the first three articles, in which are laid down the various circumstances in which the parties would come to each other’s assistance is:— "Article 1: Should one of the contracting parties become engaged in hostilities with an European Power in consequence of aggression by the latter against that contracting party, the other contracting party will at once give the contracting party engaged in hostilities all the support and assistance in its power. “Article 2: The provisions of Article 1 will also apply in the event of any action by a ‘ European Power which clearly threatened directly or indirectly the independence of one of the contracting parties and was of such a nature that the party in question considered it vital to resist it with its armed forces. Should one of the contracting parties become engaged in hostilities with an European Power in consequence of action by that Power which threatened its independence or neutrality of another European State in such a way as to constitute a clear menace to the security of that contracting party, the provisions of Article 1 will apply, without prejudice, however, to the rights of other European States concerned. “Article 3: Should a European Power attempt to undermine the independence of the contracting parties by a process of economic penetration or in any way, the contracting parties will support each other in resistance to such attempt. Should the European power concerned thereupon embark on hostilities against one of the contracting parties the provisions of Article 1 will apply.’’ By Article 7 the contracting parties agree that they will not conclude an armistice or treaty of peace except by mutual agreement. '

POLAND’S TERMS RIGHTS TO BE DEFENDED. DEFENCE PREPARATIONS RUSHED. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) WARSAW, August 25. Government newspapers publish identical inspired articles, setting out the grounds on which Poland would go to war. These are. firstly, any attempt to reunite Danzig with the Reich; secondly, the exclusion of Danzig from the Polish Customs frontiers; thirdly, the submission of Polish rights in Danzig to a third Power; fourthly, deprivation of the Danzig Poles of their rights of national development. Poland is rushing her defence pre-, parations. As the result of an overnight appeal from the Mayor of Warsaw, volunteers began at dawn on a large scale the construction of shelters and trenches. Prohibition is enforced except of the lightest ales. The country’s first trial blackout was held in Poznan, which is to be darkened nightly until further notice. RUSSIAN EFFORT TO INDUCE POLAND TO YIELD. HITLER POSTPONES ACTION. (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, August 25. The Berlin representative of the Associated Press of Great Britain says sources close to Marshal Goering declare that M. Molotov has already embarked on efforts- to induce Poland to agree to an eleventh hour solution. It is reported to be on account of this that Herr Hitler withheld his hand at a moment when everyone expected invasion. An indication of how close Germany was to action last night was provided by the revelation that eveiy radio station suddenly switched on an identical programme, which is done only when most important pronouncements are imminent. POLISH PLANS PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK. ALLEGED BY GERMAN NEWS AGENCY. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) BERLIN. August 25. "It is now certain that the Poles are planning to attack German territory, declares an official German news agency statement. "Polish troop concentrations and military preparations are in nowise defensive. The Poles have brought up much cavalry within striking distance of the border. Three Polish assault divisions and an armoured brigade are concentrated at the Prussian frontier. Preparations are j noticeable in Upper Silesia.”