RUSSIA WOULD ACT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 11

RUSSIA WOULD ACT

Intervention If Japan Attacked Mongolia STALIN’S ASSERTION Two Focal Points of War Danger By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright London, March The British United Press representative in Moscow states: “ ‘lt Japan ventures to.attack the Mongolian People’s Republic they will destroy its independence and we shall help the Republic,’ declared M. Stalin, in a special interview, ‘the same as we did in 1921, against Russian Whites backed by the Japanese. Any attempt to seize the Mongolian capital, Urga, will make positive Soviet action necessary.’ ” The interview was given to Mr. Roy Howard, editor of the “New York World Telegram,” who asked where MStalin thought the next great war would come, if at all. M. Stalin continued: “Nowadays wars are not declared 7 they simply start! However, I feel that the position of the friends of peace is improving. They have the advantage of being able to work in the open through instruments such as the League of Nations, with tbe assistance of powerful public opinion. No people to-day wants war. On the other hand, the proponents of war must work in the dark, which might tempt them to act in desperation. “My opinion is that there are two focal points of danger. One is in the Far East, in the zone of Japan. The other is in Europe, in the zone of Germany I have in mind numerous statements by Japanese military men containing a threat against other Powers. It is difficult to say which is the more menacing war danger. Both exist, and both are smouldering. Compared with either of these,' the Italo-Abyssinian War is an episode. Momentarily, perhaps, the situation in the Far East is the more menacing, but the centre of danger may shift to Europe, and evidence of it is afforded in Herr Hitler’s interview on February 28, which, though in pacific terminology, carried threats against France and against the Soviet.” M. Stalin added that the FrancoSoviet Pact was a certain obstacle to the enemies of peace. He expressed the opinion that Capitalism furnished tbe chief war menace owing to the desires of the Great Powers to redivide the world. There was no justification for fear in capitalist countries that the Soviet would force its theories on other nations. , MUST DO ROAD WORK Order to Russian Peasants London, March 4. A decree issued at Moscow provides that all peasants, men and women, between the ages of IS and 45, must work on the construction and repair of roads for six days a year without pay, but may pay a special tax instead.