Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-30
PEACE DELEGATES
ARE HARASSED BY
SOV|ET'S TACTICS
Virtually Prisoners, Poles
Unable to Communicate
With Warsaw.


MINSK, August 90 via Moscow
Members of the Polish peace delega-
ton who came to this city to arrange
an armistice and negotiate a treaty
ending the war between Poland and
soviet Russia have been engaged in
controversy with bolshevik Off
Gals ever since arriving here. Dlsa-
EreementS between the delegation and
the soviet commiSSar in command or
the quarters where the Poles are viz
tual prisoners have reached bewilder-
ing proportions regarding the use OF
a wireless plant by the Poles and the
regulations to be observed in the
house where the delegation is living.
Some indication of the treatment in
store for the delegates was seen in
the action of the bolsheviki when the
Poles reached this city. The delega-
ton was escorted by a detachment
of mounted soviet troops to a resi-
dence near the center of the city,
about which guards were posted win
orders to allow no one to leave with
out a soviet escort. The correspondent
of the Associated Press has found II
difficult to obtain an exact view OIL
the situation. owing to the fact that
he is a prisoner, like the rest of the
Polish party. A visit was made 10 a
local official, the correspondent pc
ing accompanied by a guard, ana the
correspondent had accompanied the
Warsaw delegation to Minsk, he was
identified with it.
TT is too bad you came with the
Poles" he was told.
The Polish delegation set up wire
less plant soon after its arrival, but
was forced to move it three times in
an endeavor to obtain a situation
from which 1t might communicate
with Warsaw. The last location was
made this morning, and prospects OF
sending messages to the Pollsh capl.
was made to use the apparatus 1t
was found the soviet commandant mad
sealed it.
Poles Grow Impatient.
The Poles are impatient under the
confinement, while the attitude of the
bolsheviki seems to grow more Of
fensive as news of Polish victories
filters through the lines.
Members of the Polish mission said
today the soviet terms presented yes
terday were not acceptable. They
added they expected more favorable
continued, and that if concessions
were not made by the soviet delega-
ton there would be no peace at all"
This contingency would not surprise
anybody here.
IT has been recalled that when the
bolshevik delegation appointed to ne
gotiate a peace with Esthonia went to
Dorpat last autumn, the bolSheviki
were kept under strict guard and
were not permitted to appear in the
streets without an armed escort. Cor
respondents accompanying the soviet
mission at that time were confined in
the bolshevik headquarters for more
than a week before being given their
liberty.
Domskf Issues Ultimatum.
NJ. Domski, Polish undersecretary
for foreign affairs, has prepared a
protest which is to be presented to the
ing that the Poles will withdraw i'm
mediately from the deliberations un-
less the soviet government ceases it's
interference with the Polish wireless
and otherwise obstructing the work
of the Polish delegation.
The note of NJ. Domski will protest
against the soviet governments
charge Of yesterday that the Poles are
causing the delay for which the soviet
delegates are blamed. 1t will assert
that the treatment of the Polish dele
cation in Minsk is worse than that
accorded the Germans at Versailles.
1t will especially complain against
new order of the bolsheviki sealing
the Polish wireless at all hours when
1T is not in use by the Poles and
threatening to shoot any one ap-
preaching within eight feet of the
challenge of the sentry.
The soviet government allows the
use of the wireless for one-hour pc
RODS. Today, while the Poles were
getting into communication with
Warsaw, the time limit elapsed and
"a a Sfo