FRIENDLY BASIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 164, 12 July 1940, Page 7

FRIENDLY BASIS.

BRITAIN TO RUSSIA.

Effort To Prevent Oil Going To

Germany.

NAZI CANARD REFUTED. British Official Wireless. (Received 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 11. Mr. R. A. Butler, Foreign UnderSecretary, when asked in the House of Commons whether he was able to give a categorical denial. to the allegations contained in u German White Book that Britain's foreign policy towards Russia was to divert attacks against Baku oilfields, replied in the affirmative.

"Britain's policy lias been, and remains, to improve and strengthen relations between Britain and the Soviet. Success in this policy has appeared more likely since March, when the Soviet made a friendly approach to Britain and proposed the resumption of trade negotiations.

"Britain at once responded to this approach, and it is to be hoped the discussions on which Sir Stafford Cripps is at present engaged in Moscowmay remove the danger of the Soviet working either economically or militarily against Britain in the interests of Germany. Ever since the outbreak of war Britain has had to guard against this danger when making her military plans.

."It was natural, therefore, that staffs who, in a totalitarian war, have to consider all future hypotiieses, should consider how 'to counter Russian assistance to Germany. Apart from actual military assistance, one of the most valuable forms of help which the Soviet is in a position to give Germany was to supply her with oil from the Caucasus.

"It was thus the duty of General Staffs to examine whether, in certain eventualities, it would be possible to interfere with the output of oil from Caucasian wells. I might add that no attempt was made at any time to enlist the co-operation or the acquiescence of either Turkey or Iran in these hypothetical plans."