SOVIET ATTITUDE PERTURBS GERMANY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 80, 4 April 1944, Page 5

SOVIET ATTITUDE PERTURBS GERMANY

POLICY IN RUMANIA Molotov Says Allies Were Consulted N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, April 3. Reports from Berlin indicate that M. Molotov's announcement of the Soviet's policy on Rumania is having a disturbing effect in Germany, says The Times Stockholm correspondent. Such an effect was expected because the announcement undermines the strongest German arguments to persuade Rumania and Hungary to stay in the war—otherwise Stalin intended to utterly destroy their national life. The first German reference to M. Molotov's statement came from a Berlin spokesman, who said it was a transparent manoeuvre, which the Rumanians would understand, that it was designed to hide the facts that the Russians were coming to the end of their reserves, and that the scope of their offensive must soon dwindle. Observers in Turkey are doubting the ability of the Germans to stem the Red Army's onslaught in Rumania, says The Times Ankara correspondent. The Rumanian Army, which gave a good account of itself during the offensive against Russia, seems to have lost its backbone and gives signs of complete demoralisation. The failure of the Germans to enlist the full support of the Rumanians—and the same applies to Hungary—might have far-reach-ing consequences and the possibility of the utter collapse of the entire German eastern front should not be excluded. Kremlin and Whitehall Compared "The Russians' entry into Rumania is one of those events, which will alter the course of history," says the Daily Mail, in an editorial. "With her reassuring statement to the Rumanians she will begin much better than we did when we invaded Italy. Russia's method of administering occupied territory will be watched with the deepest interest. It is impossible to view the firm handling of the foreign policy of the Kremlin without comparing it with the apparent lack of aim and purpose in Whitehall. "Russia gives the impression of knowing what she wants and is going out to get it, whereas we appear to dither. It is not our business to analyse American foreign policy but Whitehall and Washington between them were far from successful in the political settlement of French North Africa. "Another such mess on a much graver scale will arise in France itself, unless clean-cut political decisions are reached before the second front opens. "There should not be three policies but one. Everyone thought this had been recognised at the Moscow and Teheran conferences. It is time the big three got together again on this point before the present divergence becomes irretrievable." Allied Approval of Moscow's Policy At the first of a series of Press conferences, which are to be held periodically, the Soviet Foreign Commissar, M. Molotov, said the Russian Government had no contact with and did not know of the whereabouts of the Rumanian Government. M. Molotov, on the other hand, made it clear that Russia had been in full contact with Britain and Anverica since the Red Army had entered Rumania. He added that his statement last night, in which he gave the reason for the Red Army's entry into Rumania, was made with the agreement of both M. Molotov declined to say how far the Russians had advanced toward Bucharest. When asked the date on which the Russians entered Rumania, he answered that he was not a military spokesman and could only say it was some time between March 26 and now. Two Japanese correspondents attended the Press conference and sat silently with expressionless faces, not venturing to ask any questions. The British and American correspondents, however, fired questions at M. Molotov. , _ M. Molotov's statement about Rumania, in which he stressed that, though "the rout and capitulation of the German armies was the Russians' object in crossing the frontier thev had no intention of acquiring any "part of Rumanian territory or of altering the country's social structure, has been warmly welcomed in London. The effect of the statement on the Rumanian people is awaited with interest.