MENACE OF WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 122, 5 March 1936, Page 5

MENACE OF WAR

STALIN SEES TWO CENTRES. THE FAR EAST AND GERMANY!'; FRENCH PACT MAKES FOR PEACE (United Press Association—Copyright) KReeeived, This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March.. 4. ■'■." A British United Press message from Moscow states: .

"If Japan ventures to attack the Mongolian peoples and the republic and destroy its independence, we shall help the republic," declared M. Stalin in a special, interview," the same as wo did in 1921 against the Russian Whites, hacked by the Japanese. Any attempt to seize the Mongolian capital of Urga will make positive Soviet action.".

The interview was given to Mr Roy Howard (editor of the ''New York World-Telegram"), who asked where M. Stalin thought the next great war would come, if at all. M. Stalin continued: "Nowadays 1 wars are not declared; they simply start. However, I feel that the position of'the friends of peace is improving. They have the advantage of oeing able to work in the open,, through such instruments as the League of Nations, with the assistance of powerful public opinion. No people to-day want war/ On the Other hand, the proponents of war must work in the dark, which might tempt them to act in desperation. My opinion is that there are two :ocal points of dangerone in the Far East in the zone of Japan, and the other in Europe in the zone of Germany. I have in mind numerous statements by Japanese military men, containing **£s**»* against other powers. It is difficult to say which is the more menacing war danger- Both exist, both are smouldering. Compared with- either ot these the Italo-Abyssiman war is an episode. Momentarily, perhaps, th. 9 situation in the Far East is the mo.ro: menacing, but the centre of danger may shift to Europe, evidence of which is contained in Herr Hitler's interview last Saturday, which though pacific in terminology, carried" threats against France and against the Soviet." M. Stalin added that the FrancoSoviet pact was a certain obstacle to the enemies of peace. He expressed the opinion that capitalism furnished the chief war menace owing to the desires of the great Powers again to divide the world. There was no justification for the fear in capitalist countries that the Soviet would force its theories on other nations.

"LIKE EUROPE IN 1914." SITUATION ON THE FRONTIER. LONDON, March 3. "There is an atmosphere of mobilisation like Europe in 1914," declares Mr Arthur Donald Bate, foreign editor of the "China Press," describing the situation on the Russian and Manchukua frontier, on his arrival in Berlin after journeying on the trans-Siberian railway (writes the Berlin. correspondent of the "Sun-Herald" news service). Mr Bate says the Russians think that trouble will begin in the spring, when the weather improves.