GERMAN PEACE PACT WITH RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 9

GERMAN PEACE PACT WITH RUSSIA

Official Announcement Made In Berlin

HERR VON RIBBENTROP TO GO TO MOSCOW

Soviet Confirms Arrangements For Negotiations

It is officially announced. in Berlin that Germany and Russia have agreed to conclude a non-aggression pact. Simultaneous announcements in Berlin and Moscow state that the German Foreign Minister (Herr von Ribbentrop) will leave for Moscow to negotiate the pact. German comment on the situation regards the impending pact as a severe blow to Britain, which, it is surmised, will hardly now care to carry out its obligations to Poland. For this reason it is considered the German demands against Poland will be granted fully and Britain will be obliged to make the best of a bad job.

The news of the pact is reported to have shocked Poland, where the first reaction was to wait and see what Britain and France proposed doing. $

Diplomatic observers in Berlin describe Herr Hitler’s turning to Communist Russia for friendship as one of the most dramatic acts in his career.

It is considered in America that the German** : Russian move will spur Mr Roosevelt’s drive to amend the Neutrality Act in favour of Britain and France. Some doubt is expressed whether the non-aggression nact will actually be completed, and it is felt that the {Soviet may be endeavouring to force Britain and France into a military alliance.