RUSSO-GERMAN PACT

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 20

RUSSO-GERMAN PACT

Correspondents who do not comely with our rules set out in the last column ,of our Leader Page will excuse us from noticing their letters.

TO THE EDITOR OF TSB TRESS. Sir, —It would appear that doubts are creeping into the minds of the originators as to the real wisdom of the “bombshell” recently thrown upon Europe—the Russo-German Pact. At any rate the Russians are not hurrying the process of ratification. To offset its obvious militai/ advantages to both countries, the pact has many international repercussions which, in the event of war, might more than outweigh the advantages gained. As far as Russia is concerned, the agreement with Nazi Germany has done the cause of international Socialism tremendous harm. It has shown the working men of the world, who rightly object to Nazism, that, at all events, Russia is not their saviour. After years of ranting against the monster of Fascism, she has now quartered the hammer and sickle (couchant) against the swastika (rampant) on a field of blood. The working man is quick to appreciate the value of these deeds above words—even 10 years of words—as witness the anti-Communist rioting in France during the last few days. As far as Germany is concerned, the pact has effected an almost miraculous cooling in the ardour of her allies. Japan considers herself “sold” to Russia. Spain has bluntly said “This is the end of the Anti-Comintern Pact”; she, certainly, will not ally herself with Russia. Even Italy is not backing up Germany’s claims with her usual enthusiasm. I read in to-day’s issue that Mussolini is ready to intervene on the side of peace if Britain’s negotiations with Hitler fail. Without presuming to interpret the mind of the Pope, I cannot see him favourable to a war, with Italy in alliance with Russia. It may well be that this pact is the starting point to a breakdown of the unnatural alliance between Italy and Germany—unnatural, because the German emperors have for centuries dominated northern Italy and - stand identified in Italian, eyes with foreign tyranny and invasion. Lastly, the Russian pact has materially weakened the case of the pro-Germans in the United States.

It has been suggested that the “bombshell” was after all not such a profound surprise to Mr Chamberlain; that he was told plainly by Russia that unless a military alliance (on Russia’s terms) was >. speedily concluded, she would go to Germany. If the implications of this suggestion be correct. I would rate the pact as Mr Chamberlain’s finest feat of strategical diplomacy. , As far as purely British interests are concerned, the union of the forces of Nazism and Communism is probably the finest thinn that could have happened outside of a war -between Germany and Russia, in wliich they were both partly wiped out; The decent elements ot the whole world have by the pacf been brought into some semblance of unity against the joint oppressors of human liberties, Nazism and. Communism.—Yours, etc., AHT. August 31, 1939.