NO COMMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 198, 23 August 1939, Page 11

NO COMMENT.

RUSSIAN PRESS.

Unexpected News For Average

Citizen.

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS STUNNED

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, August 22,

All Soviet newspapers publish without comment news of Herr von Ribbentrop's visit, surprising the average citizen. The British and French military missions conferred in the afternoon but did not meet the Russians.

Herr von Ribbentrop will bring a staff of 32 advisers and will be quartered in the house next door to the British mission. The official Soviet statement announcing that negotiations would be opened with Germanv, stated: "After the conclusion of the Russo-German trade agreement the problem of improv-. i"g political relations arose, and an exchange of views on the subject established that both Governments desired to relieve the mutual political tension, eliminate the war menace and conclude a non-aggression pact."

A later official announcement from Moscow confirmed the intention of Russia and Germany to conclude a nonaggression pact.

Foreign diplomats in Berlin were stunned by the news. They consider the pact will vastly strengthen HenHitler's hand, enabling him to press his anti-Polish campaign with renewed vigour. . It is even suggested Poland might now be willing to negotiate on what she has hitherto steadfastly refused to discuss.

The news shocked Warsaw, where the first reaction was to wait and see what Britain and France propose doing. Some observers think it will mean the end of the British-French-Russian talks, but others point out that non-aggression pacts do not affect alliances; they recall that the Franco-Polish Alliance remained in force in spite of the Polish-German non-aggression pact which Herr Hitler subsequently denounced.

It is hinted in Danzig that directly tlie Russo-German pact is signed, Germany will present Poland with a 24liour ultimatum.

Hungary considers Poland's fate is sealed and the western Powers will now be unable to assist any small Powers in east Europe.

The "Daily Herald" (Labour) in a leading article says: "The announcement represents one of the most astounding and most shocking reversals of policy in history."