A BOLD STROKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 249, 2 August 1941, Page 6

A BOLD STROKE

RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY. THE AGREEMENT WITH POLAND. “is. NOT OPPORTUNISM.” (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 1. M. Stalin's signature to tho RussoPolish agreement is not opportunism, nor dictated by a desire to please Britain, but a, significant indication of the future of Russian international policy, says Reuter’s special correspondent at Moscow. He adds that while a fierce battle- continues in Western Russia, developments, vitally important to both the progress of the war and post-war Europe have occurred in the diplomatic field.- >: . . -.. ww

..The agreement with Poland was an example of this, he added. It was a bold and startling stroke characterising Soviet foreign policy which has returned to the idea of an anti-FaScist

and anti-aggression front. This was -Very dear to M. Stalin’s heart very ß ago when he manifested in Russian adherence to the League of Nations. It is now freely admitted that the so-called partition of Poland in 1939 was merely to prevent Germany approaching even closer. It was vital that Russianoccupied Poland should absorb the initial shock of the Germaft onslaught. The Russo-Polish agreement does not ' settle territorial problems, but “Pravda” and other newspapers speak very significantly in welcoming the restoration of Poland’s “creative” powers.