The Auckland Star: MONDAY JULY 14, 1941. AGREEMENT WITH THE SOVIET WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News. The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY JULY 14, 1941. AGREEMENT WITH THE SOVIET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 164, 14 July 1941, Page 6

The Auckland Star: MONDAY JULY 14, 1941. AGREEMENT WITH THE SOVIET WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News. The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY JULY 14, 1941. AGREEMENT WITH THE SOVIET

•J HE agreement signed between Britain and Soviet Russia appears to bo as limited in scope as it is brief. We are spared any pretence of a high-sounding preamble about the long-standing friendship and fundamental identity of purpose of the Governments of the two great countries, and there is no profession of an intention to join hand in hand after the war in the task of building a better and brighter world. Such declarations and professions would, of course, have lacked the ring of conviction, for until three weeks ago the Soviet was far more friendly with Germany than with Britain, and there is little to suggest that if Stalin had been permitted to go on with his policy of appeasing Hitler he would not have grasped every opportunity. The last occasion when he was able to demonstrate his goodwill, and his desire to do his fellow-dictator a good turn, occurred less thsjn two months ago, when he hastened to make diplomatic, trade t and consular agreements with the pro-German Government of Rashid Ali in Iraq, at a time when it. appeared that Britain was in grave difficulties in that region. There was even talk, though from a Japanese source, of a Russo-German combination to "defend" Iraq, and of the Soviet's authorising Russian pilots to volunteer for service against the British. These circumstances, and perhaps others which have not become public, were no doubt in the minds of Mr. Churchill and his Ministers, and we may hope that they were in the minds of the Dominions' Ministers, too, when the agreement with the Soviet was being negotiated.

The fact that the two countries are warring against Germany made .some agreement and understanding necessary. The amount of help it will be possible for each to give the other is doubtful in general, help would imply the availability of means of transport, sea transport, and circumstances do not suggest that either country has shipping to spare. While the attitude of Turkey remains the same it is likely to prove impossible for Britain and Russia to co-operate in the' Black Sea, and the practicability of substantial traffic by way of the White Sea is doubtful. Probably the most useful help that Britain can give Russia is the kind that is being given now by the Royal Air Force over Germany, although as the war develops other opportunities may be presented. It would, of course be possible to make a gesture to Russia to facilitate the raising of volunteer forces to fight by the side of Soviet troops. In Britain and the Dominions there have always been thpse who professed to be longing for the day when they could help the Soviet against Nazi Germany. Some of them have said—even in New Zealand they have said it, before the Armed Service Appeal Boards—that they would take up arms only to help the Soviet. This is their opportunity. The Government might well consider offering to help them on their way. As a gesture it would not be without value, and the financial commitment would be small. It might turn out to be nil, for local Communist bellicosity is usually most impressive on paper. The other part of the British-Soviet agreement provides that neither shall separately negotiate or conclude an armistice with Germany. Britain did not propose to do so when Russia was helpingGermany, so it is not conceivable that she would contemplate such an action now. On the Russian side, this agreement, no doubt, represents the present determination of the Soviet.