Evening star., 1944-12-18
u. S. Backs Poland on Frontiers;
P|edqes Aid on Partition Plan
Stettinius Defines
Policy in Reply
Churchill
By JOSEPH H. BAIRD.

The United States Government
today expressed strong opposi-
ton to any partition of Poland
made without that countrys
consent, but at the same time
offered to cooperate in working
out any territorial arrangements
agreed on by the nations "di-
rectly concerned" apparently
meaning Poland, Soviet Russia
and Great Britain.
The statement of policy, issued by
Secretary of State Stettinius, was
regarded as direct answer to Prime
Minister Churchills speech last
week suggesting that the Poles sub
NIT to Russian demands for a cary
ing up of their country along lines
which would give Eastern Poland to
Russia and compensate Warsaw by
territory in East Prussia. Mr.. Stet-
tinius, however, made no direct ref
erence to British policy.
Mr.. Stettinius issued his state
ment at his noon press conference
after devoting the week end to an
intense study of the Prime Min
tster's speech.
Stettinius Sees Halifax.
Shortly before seeing newspaper
men he had a talk with the Earl of
Halifax. the British Ambassador.
The text of Mr.. Stettinius' decla-
ration:
The United States Governments
position as regards Poland has been
steadfastly guided by full under
standing and sympathy for the in
terests of the Polish people This
position has been communicated on
previous occasions to the interested
governments, including the govern
ment of Poland. 1t may be sum-
married. as follows:
81 The United States Govern
ment stands unequivocably for a
strong, free and independent Polish
state with the untrammeled right
of the Polish people to order their
internal existence as they see fit.
20. 1t has been the consistently
held policy of the United States
Government that questions relating
to boundaries should be left in abey-
ance until after termination of hos
tilities.
Hulls Address Quoted.
"As Secretary Hull stated in his
address of April 9, 1914, This does
not mean that certain questions may
not and should not in the meantime
be settled by friendly conference
and agreement In the case of the
future frontiers of Poland, if mu-
tual agreement is reached by the
United Nations directly concerned,
this Government would have no OBJ
lection to such an agreement which
could make an essential contribu-
ton to the prosecution of the war
against the common enemy.
IF as a result of such an agree
ment the government and people of
Poland decide that it would be in
the interest of the Polish state to
transfer national groups, the United
States Government in cooperation
with other governments, will assist
Poland, in so far as practicable, in
such transfers.
THE United States Government
continues to adhere to its traditional
policy of declining to give guaran-
tees for any specific frontiers. The
United States Government is work.
ing for the establishment of world
security organization through which
the United States together with
other member states, would assume
responsibility for the preservation
of general security.
Aid for Liberated Countries.
"3. 1t is the announced aim of the
United States Government, subject
to legislative authority, to assist the
countries liberated from the enemy
in repairing the devastation of war
and thus to bring to their peoples
the opportunity to join as full part
ners in the task of building a more
prosperous and secure life for all
men and women. This applies to
Poland as we'll as the other United
Nations.
THE policy of the United States
Government regarding Poland out
lined above has as its objective the
attainment of the announced basic
principles of United States foreign
policy"
Observers regarded the statement
as strong warning to Soviet Rus
sia and Great Britain that the
United States will unalterably op-
pose any efforts to force a settle
ment of the Polish question by du-
ress. 1t was, in spirit, reafflrma-
(See POLICY. Page A-14l