ACT OF AGGRESSION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 7

ACT OF AGGRESSION

ANGLO-POLISH DISCUSSIONS NEW TURN OP EVENTS BRITISH EMBASSADOR INFORMED (United Press Assn.—Elcc. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17 The Polish Embassy to-day declared that Russia’s invasion of Poland was an act of aggression. A representative hurried to the Foreign Oflice to discuss the new turn of events. The Ministry of Information announced that the Soviet lias communicated to Sir William Seeds the text of the note which it had addressed to the Polish Ambassador announcing that an order had been given to the Soviet Army to occupy certain areas in Polish territory. At tile same time the Soviet informed Sir William that it will pursue a policy of neutrality in the relations between the Soviet and Britain. Obscurity surrounds events of the last 24 hours arising from the Soviet’s decision. Official quarters here are still awaiting details, although a telegram received from Sir William Seeds leaves no doubt that the earlier reports of the Soviet intention to occupy the Polish Ukraine and White Russia were substantially correct. Known for a Long Time Well-informed quarters here point out that the Soviet’s action is quite consistent with what has been known for a long time of the Soviet attitude towards the problems arising on the western frontier in the event of Poland being involved in war. Beyond that they feel that it would be unprofitable at present to speculate, and certainly, while no possibility can he 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 Pact and to the reported Soviet-Japanese agreement, appears to fail to take Into account many other factors, including the natural conflict of interests in Eastern Europe between the Soviet and Germany. Leaders in Conference Mr Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax conferred throughout the day. It is authoritatively stated that'the Government is awaiting for fuller information from the Ambassador. According to an American press message the British diplomatic view is that the altitude of the Polish Government is not clear, and if the Government flees into Rumania it cannot operate. CONSTERNATION IN RUMANIA CUTTING OFF RETREAT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17 The Bucharest correspondent of the British United Press says consternation has followed the news of Russia's march into Poland. The two main movements are from Kaimietz and Pololski, in order to pre- ! vent Ihe retreating Poles from enler- | ing Rumania, whose Government had | staled it would intern them, and from ; Vitebsk, to cut oft' Hie Poles withi drawing from the Vilna Province into i uatviu. BUCHAREST, ~o|>l. 17 ! H is uncontirmediy reported that ! Russia has given an assurance to r«1 epect Rumania'# neutrality,