OVER RUSSIAN OCCUPATION OF POLISH TERRITORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1939, Page 6

OVER RUSSIAN OCCUPATION OF POLISH TERRITORY

Government Awaiting Fuller Information DEDUCTIONS TREATED WITH RESERVE CONFLICT OF INTERESTS BETWEEN SOVIET AND GERMANY (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) _ (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, September 17. The Ministry of Information announced that, the Soviet had communicated to Sir William Seeds (British Ambassadoi in Moscow) the text of the Note it addressed to the Polish Ambassador announcing the order given to the Soviet Army to occupy certain areas of Polish territory. At the same time, the Soviet informed Sir W. Seeds that it will pursue a policy .of neutrality in relations between the Soviet and Britain. Obscurity surrounds the events of the last twenty-four hours, arising from the Soviet’s decision. Official quarters here are still awaiting details, although a telegram received from Sir W. Seeds leaves no doubt that earlier reports of the Soviet intention to occupy the Polish Ukraine and White Russia were substantially correct. It can again be emphasised that this move on the part of the Soviet does not take either London or Paris by surprise. Well-informed quarters here point out that it is quite consistent with what has been known for a long time of the Soviet attitude towards the problems arising on her western frontier in the event of Poland being involved in war. Beyond that they.feel it would be unprofitable at present to speculate and certainly, while no possibility can be excluded in the absence of further information the tendency here is to treat with the utmost reserve deductions from the Soviet action, which, while giving full value to the Soviet-German Paet, and to the reported Soviet-Japanese Agreement, appear to fail to take into account many other factors, including the natural conflict of interests in Eastern Europe between the Soviet and Germany.