The Bay of Plenty Times THURSDAY, JUNE 18th, 1942 IMPORTANT TRIPARTITE PACT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13670, 18 June 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Times THURSDAY, JUNE 18th, 1942 IMPORTANT TRIPARTITE PACT

Very important agreements have been entered into by Britain and Russia, and the United States and Russia, and these pacts deal with the future relations of Russia with the two democracies, and also with the present needs of the war. The facts regarding the future are that Russia will not sign a separate armistice or peace treaty with Hitlerite Germany, but will sign such an agreement with the enemy as may be mutually satisfactory to the three contracting parties. Moreover, Russia will stand in with Britain and the United States in restoring order, and adjusting economic conditions after the war. The agreement with Britain is for a period of twenty years, long enough to change the whole aspect of European diplomacy and the relations of the European nations one with another. The fundamental fact in any peace treaty that may be concluded with Germany and Italy is to be that aggression in the future would be impossible. In actual fact what is intended is that Germany and Italy shall be effectively disarmed, to stay disarmed. A peace treaty without this safeguard would be worthless. Germany has disturbed the peace of Europe and of the world on five occasions during the past hundred years, and she must never again have the opportunity of going to war. That deals with the future, but it seems but bare justice that Hitler and his Nazi gang should receive punishment that would act as a deterrent to the aggressive German spirit. Hitler, Himmler, Ribbentrop and Goering, the arch fiends of the Nazi gang, must be made to pay, and so also must the Governors of the occupied countries. In practically every one of the occupied countries the Germans have put the death innocent people. Then there is the rank and file of the Gestapo, who have been selected for their jobs because of their inherent cruelty. These men should be flogged, for it is only by such a method that the enormity of their crime can be brought home to them. The present requirement of the agreement is the opening of a second front in Europe. It will be remembered that President Roosevelt stated that Russia was not affording the Allies sufficient information regarding the operations and the position on the Russian front, and that this Avas hindering the opening of a second front. Apparently all difficulties in this respect have been overcome, and Britain and the United States have definitely pledged themsel\ r es to open the second front. As soon as the agreement Avas concluded it Avas announced that a large naval force, consisting of battleships, cruisers and destroyers had reached Britain. Obviously this force is to help convoy troops, perhaps to Narvik in Nonvay, and also to convoy supplies to Russia. We may be sure that this strong American naAml force is in British Avaters for a definite object and not for shoAv purposes. The invasion of the Continent by troops representing Britain and the United States may be expected to materialise at any moment. The Aveather conditions should be favourable, and the Allies haAO the manpoAver and the equipment to put the job through to a satisfactory conclusion. Irr our vieAv, once the Allies start the offensive it Avould not be long before the end is reached. Germany Avill crack up. At any rate she Avould never be able to stand up to the fury of the nations she has so mercilessly outraged. There Avould still remain the Japanese menace, but should Germany crumble, the morale of the Japanese Avould run doAvn to zero, for the full might of the Allies could be turned against them. This Oriental country must be treated in the same Avay as Germany, so that aggression in the future may be impossible. The Allies must invade Japan, and the armistice must be signed on Japanese soil. The Allies are not likely to overlook the inestimable services rendered by China, and in any peace treaty concluded Avith Japan.— the integrity and interests of China must receive full consideration.