BRITAIN’S DESIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1943, Page 3

BRITAIN’S DESIRE

AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOVIET & POLAND DECLARED BY MR. EDEN. CLOSEST COLLABORATION WITH AMERICA. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, May 4. The Foreign Secretary, Mr Eden, in a statement in the House of Commons today about the “unfortunate difficulties between the Russian and Polish Governments,” said: "There is no need for me to enter into the immediate origins of the dispute. I will only draw attention, as indeed the Russian and Polish Governments have already done in their statements, to the cynicism which permits the Nazi murderers of hundreds of thousands of innocent Russians and Poles to make use of a story of mass murder in an attempt to dislurb the Allies’ unity.

"Britain from the outset used her best efforts to persuade the Russians and Poles not to allow these German manoeuvres to have even a semblance of success. Therefore it was with regret that we learned tnat after an appeal from the Polish Government to me International Red Cross to investigate the German story the Soviet Union felt compelled to interrupt relations with the Poles. "Britain does not wish to attribute blame lor this event to anyone except the common enemy. Britain's sole desire is that these differences between the two United Nations should be repaired as swiftly as possible, and that the relations between Russia and Poland should be restored to that basis of collaboration which was established m spite of all difficulties between Marshal Stalin and General Sikorski, and which proved of such benefit to the cause of the United Nations and of farreaching importance for the future well-being of Europe. "Britain, in pursuing this policy, is working in the closest collaboration with America. The British Government trusts that the statesmanship which led to the conclusion of the Russo-Polish agreement of July 30 1941 will again succeed where it succeeded before. “One thing at least is certain: the Germans need not indulge in a hope that their manoeuvres will weaken the combined offensive of the Allies or the growing resistance of the enslaved populations of Europe.” BROADCAST BY SIKORSKI. In a broadcast, the Polish Prime Minister, General Sikorski, recalled Mr. Churchill’s statement that while some countries were appearing on the list of executions every week, Poland appeared every day of the week. General Sikorski declared that wars were not won alone by guns and tanks, and said: “Do not take the Polish resistance lightly. Treat our nation as it deserves to be treated.” A friendly relationship with Soviet Russia was one of the guiding principles of the Government and the nation, therefore, what was separating them must be removed as soon as possible. There were some points, he said, which would not affect Allied unity. The families of Polish soldiers should be allowed to leave Russia as soon as possible, as also should ail Poles fit to carry arms. The relief of Poles in Russia should be maintained till they were able to return to their homes.