Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1940. SOVIET AND BALTIC STATES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 247, 26 July 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1940. SOVIET AND BALTIC STATES.

It is officially stated in Berlin that Russia’s absorption of the three hitherto independent Baltic States will not disturb relations between Germany and the Soviet. That statement may be true because the incorporation is part of the agreement entered into between Hitler and Stalin; or it may mean that the latter has stolen a march on his fellow-aggressor, who finds it politic, in his present circumstances, not to provoke hostile sentiment that might threatens his eastern frontier. The indications are that the latest development is not altogether to the liking of the Fuhrer, whose plans for the division of Europe with Mussolini do not leave any pickings for the Soviet. At the least the acquisition of territory bordering on the Baltic will make the Soviet a definite competitor with Germany for control of that sea, in which Hitler is not inclined to brook interference. The incorporation of about sixty-six thousand square miles of territory containing a population of some six millions does not relatively add to the extent or the prestige of the vast republic, but it has important aspects that may involve far-reaching consequences. Russia has gained considerable advantage by acquiring a long seafront to the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, lack of which has long been a sore point with her. Putting the matter broadly, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia attained their independence by being severed from Russia as an outcome of the war of 1914-18; however, the Soviet Government has not lookedjupon them as irrecoverably lost, and Has used the recent opportunity, presented by Germany s actions, to lay hold of them again. Germany herself has been palpably wishful to become possessed of Lithuania as an extension of East Prussia; by the taking of the Memel region this German project was openly advanced. It may be long before it is established whether or not the Russian gain now effected is in accordance with the Russo-German schedule of map-mak-ing in a joint programme, Germany agreeing to this and possibly other territorial enlargements of Russia as part of the price for Soviet withdrawal from the company of the Allies. If it is so there can be no doubt that Hitler was compelled to make the agreement because otherwise he would not have been able to embark on what is an even stronger ambition of his, to endeavour to crush the British Empire.