NOTE TO RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23362, 23 June 1941, Page 5

NOTE TO RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR

Allegations By Germany

STATEMENT BY RIBBENTEOP

(Received June 23, 2 a.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, June 22,

All German radio stations, after Herr Hitler’s proclamation, broadcast a note which tl . German Foreign Minister (Herr von Ribbentrop) sent to M, Dekanosov, the Russian Ambassador in Berlin, early to-day. Herr von Ribbentrop’s statement said: "This morning I informed the Soviet Ambassador that the Russian armies were threatening Germany’s frontiers and Germany had taken military measures for defence.” The note to M. Dekanosov read: “When in the summer of 1939 the Reich approached Russia to achieve an adjustment of mutual interests Germany realised it was not easy to reach an understanding with a state which was ruled by a party which was a section of the Comintern but it undertook this step in the belief that an understanding wouid be the best guarantee against the spread of Communism. This belief was strengthened by happenings in Russia which suggested that the Soviet Government had departed from these doctrines and from its former methods of causing the disintegration of foreign nations.

Thus, the agreements of August and September, 1939, provided first for peaceful and neighbourly relations; second, for the delimitation of spheres of interest, Germany renouncing all influence in Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Bessarabia and agreeing to territories in Poland being incorporated in Russia. “Germany adhered faithfully to the treaty and by shedding German bloo& in the conquest of Poland gained for Russia the greatest success In foreign politics the Soviet has achieved in all its existence. The Soviet, on the contrary, through centres in neighbouring countries, attempted subversive activities and preparatory measures for sabotage in Germany and Germanoccupied territories. M. Krilov, Commissar for the 0.G.P.U., arranged a systematic training force for the purpose. The Russians sabotaged 16 German ships. "Abundant material regarding the Soviet intelligence service, radio transmission and reception methods, sabotage and comprehensive espionage incontrovertibly proves this antiGerman attitude. A document discovered after the German occupation of Jugoslavia declared that the Soviet would not react until an opportune moment when the Axis had further dissipated its force. The Soviet consequently was able to strike a sudden blow against Germany.” Russia, in September, 1939, gave an assurance to Herr von Ribbentrop that she would not occupy nor bolshevise any spheres except Poland, but the Soviet exclusively aimed at extending her military power wherever possible between the Arctic and Black Sea and spreading Bolshevism all over Europe. Then, while the Germans were still fighting in the west, the Soviet advanced to the Balkans, The Soviet had declared she would never make the first move to settle the Bessarabian question, but she informed Germany on June 24, 1940, that she had resolved to settle it by force and that her claim included Bukovina, which was an ancient Austrian Crown land and never belonged to Russia. It was never mentioned in the negotiations with Moscow. These actions were irrefutably contrary to the Moscow agreement. ~ . “In August, 1940, Germany invited the Soviet to give concrete form to Russian relations with the Tripartite Powers and invited M. Molotov to Berlin. M. Molotov demanded: “(1) Russian guarantees to Bulgaria and the establishment of military bases in Bulgaria. “(2) A Russian-Turkisl: treaty f"r leasing long-term bases for the Soviet land and naval forces on the Bosporus and in the Dardanelles with Germany and Italy co-operating in exerting pressure on Turkey in the event of Turkey’s non-agreement, “(3) Complete German abandonment of Finland, which would have meant a Russian occupation of Finland and the extermination of the Finns. “Germany rejected the demands which Russia designated as a primary condition for co-operation with the signatories to the Tripartite pact. The Soviet after that intensified its antiGerman policy by co-operating more closely with Britain. The Soviet’s policy reached a climax with the Jugoslavian anti-German putsch which was instigated by England with the Soviet’s endorsement. "News was received to-day from England about Sir Stafford Cripps’s negotiations for closer political and military collaboration between Russia and Britain, and shows the sort of fate Russia wants to prepare for Germany.” Hitler’s Message to Army Herr Hitler, in a message to the German Army of the east front said: “German soldiers, you are entering a hard and responsible struggle. The fate of Europe and the future of the Reich and the existence of the German nation He in your hands. May God help us all in this fight.” , T . , A warning from the German High Command concerning parachutists was being broadcast at intervals to-day and also given prominence in the press. It says It is possible for the enemy to drop parachutists not only In the area of military operations but in German territory, for purposes of sabotage and destruction. The enemy may use Jews or Poles speaking German and wearing civilian clothes. Active fighting against parachutists will be done only by the army, police, and gendarmes, Herr von Ribbentrop this morning received journalists. He said the negotiations in Moscow with the British Ambassador there (Sir Stafford Cripps) were reported to be successful and it became • clear that Russia was working against Germany. Herr von Ribbentrop promised documentary proof of a Russian understanding with Britain against Germany and also a report by the High Command on Russian' military preparations and a report by Herr Himmler, chief of the Gestapo, of subversive anti-German activity by the Soviet. Herr von Ribbentrop added that documents found in Rumania confirmed Soviet preparations and showed that Russia would be reorganising her forces until August.