HOPES FOR FUTURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1941, Page 6

HOPES FOR FUTURE

BASED ON SOVIET-POLISH PACT UNION AGAINST COMMON ENEMY. GRATITUDE EXPRESSED TO MR EDEN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 30. The agreement between the Soviet Union and Poland was signed in the Secretary of State’s room at the Foreign Office this afternoon. General Sikorski signed for Poland and M. Maisky for the Soviet. Mr Churchill and Mr Eden were also present. After the signature of the agreement, Mr Eden handed General Sikorski an official Note in the following terms: “On the occasion of the signature of the Polish-Soviet agreement of today’s date, I desire to take the opportunity of informing you that, in conformity with the provisions of the agreement of mutual assistance between the United Kingdom and Poland of August 25, 1939, his Majesty's Government has entered into no undertakings towards the Soviet Union which affect the relations between that country and Pol- j and. I also desire to assure you that . his Majesty’s Government does not re- j cognise any territorial changes which - have been effected in Poland since j August, 1939.” ] General Sikorski handed Mr Eden ( the following reply: “The Polish Gov- , ernment takes note of your Excel- j lency's letter, dated July 30, 1941, and ( desires 'to express its sincere satisfac- ; tion at the statement that his Majesty’s ; Government does not recognise any ; territorial changes which have been ; effected in Poland since August, 1939. 1 This corresponds with the view of 'the Polish Government, which as it had j previously informed his Majesty's Government, has never recognised any i territorial changes effected in Poland since the outbreak of the present war.” After this ceremony had taken place, 1 Mr Eden said he wished to congratu- : late the two parties on the signature of ■ the agreement. It was, he believed, • fair and advantageous to both sides. It would lay a firm foundation for fruitful collaboration between the two countries in the war against the common enemy. It was therefore a valuable contribution to the Allied cause and would be warmly welcomed in all friendly countries, and not least by public opinion in the United Kingdom. General Sikorski said they were at a turning point in history. Not all questions had been settled between Russia and Poland in the present agreement, but the basis provided for useful collaboration in future would depend on the goodwill of ooth sides. They possessed that goodwill. Hej thanked the British Governme’nt for. all the great work it had done to bring ; about the agreement. The solidarity! of all freedom-loving peoples against; Hitlerite Germany would provide a basis for common victory. M. Maisky said he wished to express, on behalf of'his country, gratitude to the British Government, and especial-1 ly to Mr Eden, for all his efforts in ■ working for the agreement. The peoples of Russia had very friendly feelings towards the people of Poland. They had a common enemy, namely Hitlerite Germany, They would fight side by side against this common enemy. This would pave the way for firm and solid friendship between the two peoples future, when the time had come to build up a new Europe, after the war had been won, on the principle of the self-determination of nations. , 1 Mr Churchill said this memorable episode marked the association of two historic nations in Eastern Europe in defence of human rights. Here, as a result of the. labours of the last few days, was a pact of friendship signed between the Russians and Poles, whose long history had been chequered and darkened by their quarrels, whose future could be lightened by their comradeship. It was signed and was a proof of the fact that hundreds of millions of men all over the world were coming together on the match against the filthy gangster power which, must be effectively and finally destroyed. In the House of Commons, Mr Noel Baker congratulated Mr Eden, on be- ■ half of the House, for the part he had played in assisting the negotiations. . 1 Asked for confirmation that this i agreement carried no guarantee by his Majesty’s Government of frontiers in ’ Eastern Europe, Mr Eden replied af- “ Amatively.