SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23448, 1 October 1941, Page 7

SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA

MOSCOW CONFERENCE IMPORTANCE OF SPEED EMPHASISED (Received September 30; 11.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, September 30, The importance of speed in the production and transport of war supplies to Russia was emphasised at the first meeting of the conference among representatives of Britain, the United States, and Russia in Moscow yesterday. M. Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Commissar, presided. After the formal opening of the conference by M. Molotov, six committees were appointed, namely, army, naval, air, transport, raw material, and medical supplies. The committees began work immediately. They will report to the conference on October 3. Marshal Voroshilov arrived from the Leningrad front to attend the conference. In his opening speech, M. Molotov paid a high tribute to Lord Beaverbrook and Mr W. Averell Harriman, who lead the British and United States delegations. Lord Beaverbrook said: “We are in partnership with the Russians. We are ready to make every sacrifice to help conquer the common enemy. M. lyiolotov has said that time is precious. He is right.” Mr Harriman said that the dispatch of the United States mission was historic, because America is a non-bel-ligerent, “but we come with your ally, Britain, with the same object—to give you every assistance against the violent and unwarranted attack by Hitler and his cohorts. Your success means everything to the people of America and I have been instructed to pledge you the fullest possible support to-day, to-morrow, and as long as the struggle lasts, until victory is won.” The British and American delegations jointly issued this communique: “Red tape and long speeches were entirely absent. The six committees began their sessions immediately with orders to work day and night and fully to report on Russian needs by Friday morning.” The conference proceedings lasted only 30 minutes. M. Stalin afterwards received Lord Beaverbrook and Mr Harriman in the presence of M. Molotov and M. Litvinov. Their meeting lasted three hours. A Reuter report adds that the consultations were concerned with the questions of direct military help, already begun by the sending of Royal Air Force units to Russia, short and long-term supplies, and the all-import-ant factor of transport and transport routes. Lord Beaverbrook and Mr Harriman, on arrival in Moscow, were met by the Vice-Commissar for Foreign Affairs (M. Vychensky) and by representatives of the Red Army, Navy, and Air staffs and the British and American Embassies. Later they were received by M. Stalin in the presence of M. Molotov and M. Litvinov. Lord Beaverbrook said that it was hoped to. finish the conference within a week. The missions were in Moscow, he added, to find out as quickly as possible Russia’s immediate and future war needs. PROPAGANDA BY GERMANS APPEAL FOR SUPPORT AGAINST RUSSIA SWEDES FAIL TO RESPOND (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 29. The failure of Nazi propaganda and 'pressure- to/ evoke any practical enthusiasm for her war against Russia, either in countries like Rumania/and Bulgaria, which she virtually controls, or in Other European countries on which for geographical or political reasons she is able to exert her influence, has already been shown. Recent news from Sweden has given further evidence of the Nazis’ failure in this respect. Commenting on the paucity of crusaders” in Sweden ■ who were found willing to join the Nazi campaign against Russia, the “Manchester Guardian” says: “In July the Swedish Government refused to have a Swedish volunteer corps organised by the Germans on Swedish soil. All that a Swede could do if he wanted to serve Hitler was to seek permission to leave his country and then volunteer. To September 2, there had been only 23 applications. Each applicant had a German document certifying that he wanted to join the German Army, and the Swedish Government rejected all applications. 4 , “Very few more appear to have approached the Germans directly in Finland in order to serve in that country, and that is all. One would not expect anything else from Sweden, honest, self-respecting, freedpm-lovmg folk. The Germans do not like it.” GERMANY’S WAR PLANS PROPAGANDA OFFICIAL’S STATEMENT ZURICH, September 29. "Germany, after defeating Russia, will stand on the defensive in the war.” j This amazing statement was made bv Fritzsche, director of the press department of the German Propaganda Ministry, to a gathering of local Nazi leaders at Frankfurt-on-Mam, when sneaking on behalf of the Ministry. Fritzsche said; “It becomes necessary to take energetic steps against those many di . sbeliev^ r % h^ h «..S after our experiences in the Kussiaii war, dare to state that Germany won many battles in the Great War, but just the same lost it. Some people point to Napoleon’s eastern war and ask whether Germany is able to win this war. Government circles do not deny the seriousness of the Russian war! and the military leaders do not h FriSchr Vl ln y structed Nazi leaders he won owing to the fact that the Red Army hi? already lost such a great part of its military strength andmaferial and that it is now unnecessary for Germany to penetrate too depp y into unlimited territory,” he said Pprmanv is now preparing to build an ffon ring round the Continent, thus frustrating any possibility even }Sr Koosfvelt to come to intervene .n Europe." SALLY FROM TOBRUK enemy post attacked /ROW.) RUGBY, September 29. ( A Cairo communique states; ’During Flip nicht of September 27-28 our oatrols in the southern sector at Tobruk penetrated the wire defences and attacked a strong post, inflicting a. number of casualties. In the same sectorour artillery yesterday engaged and dispersed enemy working parties “in the frontier area also, our fighting patrols continued to harass the enemy.” -