U.S. ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23364, 25 June 1941, Page 7

U.S. ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

Mr Sumner Welles’s Statement FAVOURABLE TONE NOTED (Received June 24, 7 p.m.) (U.P.A.) WASHINGTON, June 23. Making a statement on America’s

attitude to the German attack on Russia, the United States Under-Secre-tary of State (Mr Sumner Welles) said: “If any further proof could conceivably be required of the real purpose and projects of the present leaders of Germany for world domination, it is now furnished by Hitler’s treacherous attack on Russia. “We see once more beyond peradventure of doubt with what intent Germany negotiates non-aggression pacts. . i “To the people of the United States the principles and doctrines of the Communistic dictatorship are as intolerable and alien to their own beliefs as the principles and doctrines of the

MR SUMNER WELLES Nazi dictatorship. Neither kind of imposed overlordship can have or will nave any support or any sway in the mode of life or in the system of government of the American people. “But the immediate issue that presents itself to the people of the United States is whether the plan for universal conquest, for the cruel and brutal enslavement of all peoples, and for the ultimate destruction of the remaining free democracies which Hitler is now desperately trying to carry out, is to be successfully halted and defeated. “In the opinion of this Government, any defence against Hitlerism and any rallying of the-forces opposing Hitlerism, from whatever source these forces may spring, will hasten the eventual downfall of the present German leaders and will therefore redound to the benefit of our own defence and security. “Hitler’s armies are to-day the chief dangers of the Americas.” While no decision of America on the question of extending lend-lease aid to Russia has yet been announced, Mr Welles’s statement leaves the impression that the Russian situation is to receive sympathetic consideration.

Economic Co-operation

Diplomatic quarters in' Washington envisage the establishment of close economic co-operation among Britain, America, and Russia, with the United States adopting a more liberal policy over the export of war materials to Russia. It is believed that the Administration will begin releasing almost immediately frozen Russian credits and assets in the United States. Americans regard the bringing _ of Russia into the vtfar with satisfaction, many simply because they hope that Russia and Britain may now finish off Germany without direct intervention by the United States. Mr Churchill’s statement that he has been a life-long opponent of Communism is considered to be an expression of good faith, giving point to his words that assistance to Russia will'fall into the category of assistance to any nation, democracy or not, that fights Herr Hitler. This is expected to sway public opinion in the United States, where dislike and fear of the Comintern will die hard. , The “New York Daily Newp” states: “It will take a lot of selling to, sell the majority of Americans a proposition that we should line up with the Soviet to lick Hitler.” BRITISH POLICY APPROVED STATEMENT BY ME MENZIES (Received June 25, 12.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 24. Complete endorsement by the Australian Federal Government of the British Government’s policy of “all possible aid to Russia” was given by the Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) in a statement in the House of Representatives to-day. Russia’s entry into the war, he declared, would relieve the pressure on Britain and allow the- Empire to launch increasing attacks on Germany and at the same time build up its own strength. Mr Menzies explained that when Mr Churchill made his statement on Sunday he obviously had had no prior opportunity of consulting the Dominion Governments on the crisis which developed so suddenly and dramatically. The occasion was one on which the British Government had every right to make a prompt announcement. Mr J. Curtin, the Leader of the Labour Party, amid cheers, then announced that the Opposition acquiesced in Mr Churchill’s decision of extending all assistance to Russia. He, too, agreed that Mr Churchill did not ignore the rights of the Dominions in coming to a quick decision to help Russia The Federal Government is not likely to change its attitude substantially on such questions as the internment of subversive persons and the suppression of subversive publications. The Government’s view is that no action has been taken against individual Communists as such. The only action has been against persons who have deliberately interfered with the war effort.

FOOD SITUATION IN BRITAIN AMERICAN WOMAN’S COMMENT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 23. The idea widely put about by Dr. Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda Minister, that Britain is on the verge of starvation was ridiculed by the American woman pilot, Miss Jacqueline Cochrane, who was the first woman pilot to bring a bomber across the Atlantic, soon after her arrival in Britain. “I am not a heavy eater,” she said “but I can use a bit of food, and I must say I have had all I want here. The first meal made me think they were being nice to me by putting on something special, so I rang up and said I did not want to be treated differently from anyone else. They said that was what everyone could have.” “The Press," the newspaper for the liome. The people’s first choice^

JAPAN’S POLICY ON WAR

ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE MADE TO DAY FULFILMENT OF TREATY OBLIGATIONS (Received June 25, 12.15 a.m.) (U.P.A.)) LONDON, June 24. Japanese policy on the war between Russia and Germany will be announced on Wednesday, says the Tokyo correspondent of the ‘‘New York Times.” Japanese officials in Shanghai, according to the same correspondent, say they have definite proof that Herr Hess went to Britain to attempt to secure an alliance between Germany and Britain against Russia but the British refused the offer and accordingly warned Russia, who then moved up defensive troops. The spokesman at the Japanese Government’s Information Bureau (Mr Ishii) to-day said that Japan intends to fulfil her treaty obligations to both Germany and Russia. The Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) had a long talk with the German Ambassador in Tokyo (MajorGeneral Ott). Mr Matsuoka said he was not in the least surprised at the German declaration of war against Russia. . , . , , Major-General Ott is working hard to obtain Japan’s help against Russia. The Japanese Prime Minister (Prince Konoye) and Mr Wang Chingwei, the Japanese puppet leader, in a joint statement, pledged themselves to collaborate to eradicate the evils of Communist aggression in establishing the new order in East Asia. The Tokyo newspaper “Asahi” states that the reasons for Germany’s attack on Russia are not clear, but anyway Japan is facing a more serious situaUC The Berlin correspondent of the “Asahi” reports that Germany’s attack on Russia has utterly dumbfounded the German people, who believed the German press assertions of the imminence of still greater friendship and cooperation with the Soviet. Bluntly giving the warning that the Russian-German hostilities make it virtually impossible to keep the European war from spreading throughout the world, the “Nichi Nichi Shimbun advocates a firm foreign r Japan, with full cognisance of the important effects of the situation on East is reported from Shanghai that the Asama Maru is making an emergency trip to Batavia tp evacuate Japanese women and children and German nationals to Japan. MR FRASER IN BRITAIN MR CHURCHILL’S GUEST AT WEEK-END LONDON. June 23. The Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon, P Fraser) spent his first week-end in England as the guest of the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) and Mrs Churchill. Other guests included the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), the Ambassador to Russia (Sir Stafford Cripps), the Secretary of State for the Dominions (Lord Cranborne), and the Minister of State (Lord Beaverbrook). Mr Fraser was actually present when Mr Churchill was broadcasting. He had luncheon to-day with the London board of directors of the Bank of New Zealand, and later conferred with Mr Arthur Greenwood, Minister without portfolio, and the Minister for Food (Lord Woolton) on New Zealand’s farm produce exports. Mr Fraser will attend his first War Cabinet meeting this afternoon. Mr Fraser this morning conferred with the London representative of the Meat Producers’ Board (Mr R. S. Forsyth) and the New Zealand butter controller (Mr Davis). He also had a long conference with Mr William Goodfellow, managing director of Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., who has lately been investigating the possibilities of extending marketing facilities for New Zealand produce. Mr Fraser announced that after consultation with the New Zealand Government he was ;able to state that his Government entirely concurred with the policy which Mr Churchill had laid down in his broadcast yesterday in reference to the German attack against Russia. New Zealand was glad to associate herself with It.

THE RELEASE OF NEWS TREATMENT GIVEN TO 8.8.C. BRITISH JOURNALISTS PROTEST (Received June 24, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. A deputation from the Institute of Journalists protested to Mr Harold Nicolson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information, against preferential treatment accorded the 8.8.C, in the issue of public statements and important news. The deputation submitted recent examples described as “instances of deliberate discrimination against the newspapers,” adding that it was impossible to resist the conclusion that the frequent release of important news items in time for the 8.8.C.’s news broadcasts was more than a coincidence.

The deputation asked ‘Tor a fair chance against a monopolistic undertaking which would be no less effective in its own sphere if their meed of common justice was given the newspapers.” Mr Nicolson received the deputation on behalf of the Minister for Information (Mr Duff Cooper). He denied the allegations of favouritism towards the 8.8.C., but promised to lay the deputation’s case before Mr Duff Cooper. OUTPUT IN MINING INDUSTRY MINISTER APPEALS FOR INCREASE (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 23. The Minister for Labour and National Service, in a broadcast address, asked the 690,000 men now employed in the mining industry to increase their output. Mr Bevin also stated that 50,000 more men were wanted to go back to the mines. He stated that the Government had decided not to bring back men from the forces for this purpose.

Supply Ship Captured.—The Royal Navy has captured another German supply ship in the Atlantic. The Admiralty announces that the vessel was masquerading under Dutch colours. It was known that the ship took refuge in Brazilian waters at the outbreak of the war and when she was stopped by the Royal Navy part of her cargo consisted of Diesel oil. —London, June 23,

Italians in U.S.—The United States Government acted yesterday to prevent the departure of Italian nationals from the United States. The order also prohibits Italians exporting or withdrawing any currency, and it requires a report respecting property in the •United States in which Italians have any interest whatsoever.—New York, June 23, „