Negotiating With Russia

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 1 (Supplement)

Negotiating With Russia

“I do not share the impatience expressed in some quarters at the slow progress in concluding what is called a ‘Russian alliance’ (says Mr. J. A. Spender in the “Yorkshire Observer ). The ‘axis’ Powers have apparently ' found it impossible to convert tiheir ‘pacts’ into an ‘alliance,’ and we nOed not be surprised if we find it difficult to do the same thing on our side.

“What the Western Powers are aiming at is an arrangement which would ensure material Russian aid to any threatened State, while leaving the nature and extent of this to be decided according to circumstances in the event of war. Why 'Russia should object to this (if she does object) has not been explained to us. One would have supposed that she would prefer to limit her liabilities in just this way.

“Let us at least exhaust the possibilities' of this immediate and more practical method' 'before going farther afield. The commitments we have entered into necessarily tie our hands to a certain extent. We cannot plunge ahead as if we' were master of. the whole situation and had no need to consider the suspectlbillties of other people.

“The Governments to which we ha.ve pledged our support want a guarantee of prompt and effective assistance in the event of war, tat are, at the same time, extremely sensitive about their independence and sovereignty. They would like to decide what sort of aid they would Invite, and when they would invite it. They would like to be quite sure that those who came to their assistance wouhj retire when their work was .done.”