FOREIGN POLICY OF SOVIET

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22983, 1 April 1940, Page 7

FOREIGN POLICY OF SOVIET

Molotov’s Address To Council “HOSTILITY OF ALLIES” (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 31, 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 29. The Soviet Foreign Commissar (M. Molotov) indicted Britain and France when addressing the Supreme Soviet Council to-day. “There have been many instances in the last five months of British and French hostility towards Russia,” he said. “In the Russian-Finnish war, Britain and France and other imperialist States participated in the war against Russia because Finland is a ready-made base for military operations against the Soviet. “The hostility culminated In Britain seizing two Russian ships and refusing to fulfil her longstanding industrial orders, and in France attaching the moneys of our Paris trade mission and requesting the withdrawal of our Ambassador, M. Souritz. “The explanation for this is the frustrated hopes of Britain and France to use Russia against .Germany. Britain and France wish to force upon us a policy of war against Germany. Russia was not, and will not be, an instrument of alien policy. “A review of the recent past reveals that we have achieved no mean successes in safeguarding the security of Russia. This infuriates our enemies, but we have faith in our cause and in our strength. We shall continue consistently our policy in the future.” “Finland by 1939 had been converted into a military base for the use of third Powers in an attack against Leningrad. Finland’s hostility to Russia last autumn was not accidental, but the Red Army broke through defences which hitherto had been regarded as impregnable. It not only prevented an attack on Leningrad but also frustrated the more extensive plans of third parties against Russia as a whole. It was not an encounter with Finland: it was an encounter between our troops and the combined forces of a number of countries hostile to Russia, including Britain, France, Sweden, Italy, and the United States. Our casualties were 48,745 dead and 158,863 wounded. Finland’s casualties are estimated at 80,000 dead and 250.000 wounded. “Russia must range herself against attempts to violate the Russian-Fin-nish peace, particularly from Finland, Sweden, and Norway under the pretext of a defensive alliance. This is obviously directed against Russia under the desire for revenge. We shall, consider Swedish and Norwegian participation in such an alliance as an abandonment of their neutrality. We at present are not in conflict with Sweden and Norway. We do not desire their ports. “Our, relations with Turkey and Iran are determined by treaties of non-aggression, and we are resolved to fulfil our obligations. Fantastic plans are ascribed to Russia for a military campaign against India and Egypt. These are obviously absurd, but in Syria and the Near East generally there is a suspicious hub-bub regarding the formation of a British and French colonial army. Any attempt to use these troops for purposes hostile to Russia would demand our taking immediate steps against the aggressor. No Threat to Bessarabia M. Molotov said there was no suejj treaty with Rumania because of the dispute over Bessarabia, but relations with Rumania were no worse, “Russia does not intend to retake Bessarabia from Rumania by resort to war. “Our relations have not improved with Japan, which must "realise that the Soviet will not tolerate violation of its interests. “Russian imports from the United States increased this year and could increase further jf the American Government would not place obstacles in the way of Russian-Ameri-can. trade.”. M. Molotov announced that the Kusinen Government agreed to dissolve before the . Russian-Finnish peace. The Supreme Soviet Council agreed to the formation of a RussianFinnish Karelian Republic. , M. Mplotov declared that Britain and France sought to ratify hostile acts against the Soviet on the ground that the Soviet was helping Germany in the war against Britain and France by trading with her. These arguments were not worth a farthing, German-Rumanian trade was much more important than Soviet-German trade. Half of Rumania's entire foreign trade went to Germany. “Britain and France,” he said, “wish to force the Soviet into a policy of hostility and war against the Germans, which would give them the opportunity of utilising the Russians for their imperialist aims. The Soviet has always pursued and will pursue her 6wn policy regardless of whether it pleases the gentlemen of other countries or not. We will not participate in a big war but will pursue an independent attitude.

Another report purported to be concerned with a subsequent conversation between Count Potocki and Mr Bullitt in which the latter outlined the exact definition by Mr Roosevelt of the United States’ standpoint for presentation to the Quai d’Orsay and Whitehall: “First, Mr Roosevelt sharply and unequivocally condemns the totalitarians. “Second, the United States war preparations will be increased in tempo and will cost the colossal sum of £313,000,000. “Third, Mr Roosevelt is firmly- of opinion that Britain and France must end every policy of compromise with the totalitarians and not enter any discussions* concerning territorial changes. “Fourth, a moral assurance that the United States will desert the policy of isolation and is prepared to participate actively with the Allies and, in the event of war, to place her entire financial and material resources at their disposal;” An alleged report from the Polish commercial attache in London reviews a conversation with Mr Kennedy in June, 1939, in which Mr Kennedy promised to see Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax immediately and insist on the necessity of helping Poland without delay with money to build up Polish armaments. ' A report from the Polish military attache in London in August, 1938. states that the United States naval .attache says: “The United States is ideologically completely on the side of the democracies, and is studying the best ways of rapidly assisting Britain and France instead of allowing years to pass as in the last war. German penetration in South America is also intolerable to the United States.” “Propaganda from Europe” Commenting on the release by Berlin of the Polish documents, Mi" Roosevelt said: “Propaganda from Europe should be taken with a grain of second thoughts with two or even three grains.’’ He indicated that he was not even slightly perturbed and that he plans no special conferences with Mr Bullitt, who is at present in Washington. Mr Bullitt, referring to Mr Roosevelt’s remarks, said: “This piece of propaganda should be taken with even more salt.” Count Potocki. said; "It is obvious propaganda. I never conversed with Mr Bullitt on the subject of United States participation in the war.” The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) formally stated: “No member of the State Department gives the slightest credence to the charges.” He added that the allegations did not represent the policy or thought of the United States at any time. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee (Senator Key Pittman) described the German assertions as “unmitigated falsehoods circulated to create dissension within the United States.” Members of the committee echoed this unbelief. The Washington correspondent of the “New. York Times” says officials arh preparing a complete report on German propaganda affecting* the United States since the outbreak of the war. State Department officials express the opinion that the first public reaction to the Nazi White Paper on Mr Bullitt will he resentment against the Germans. Senator D, W. Clark, a leading isolationist, commented: “The matter is too serious for a snap judgment, but much of the matter is probably propaganda.” While rumours' persist that Mr Clarence Pickett, a prominent Quaker, may be appointed Ambassador to Germany, it is felt in diplomatic quarters that the White Paper makes an exchange of Ambassadors unlikely. It also eliminates the scant prospect qf a peace move by Mr Roosevelt.

Such of the cable news in this issue as is so headed has appeared In "The Times." and is sent to this paper by special permission- ft should be understood that the opinions are not those of ’’The Times” unless expressly stated to hi sq, —?