GERMANY AND RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 282, 26 August 1939, Page 12

GERMANY AND RUSSIA

Ribbentrop Says Pact Is Turning Point

BERLIN, August 24.

In a broadcast Herr von Ribbentrop, who has returned from Aloscow, said, “Everything the Fuehrer does is right, and consequently the German-Russian Pact is the best thing for Germany. The Fuehrer mastered the previous crisis, and be will master this one.”

The- official news agency quotes Herr von Ribbentrop as saying that Herr Hitler and Al. Stalin decided to be friends and that the Pact will prove a firm foundation on which Russia and Germany will build in close co-opera-tion. "This is one of the most important turning points in the history of the two peoples,” he said. "I am convinced that the Pact will have a favourable effect on relations between Russia and Japan and Germany and Japan.”

JAPAN ASKS WHERE SHE STANDS

Suspected Shanghai Move Postponed

(Received August 25, 8 p.m.)

LONDON, August 25.

Reuter’s Shanghai correspondent says an acute rice shortage caused further serious riots. It is believed the Japanese intended to hold all foreign areas to ransom by a food blockade, but postponed the move because of the GermanSoviet agreement. The idea of new blockades on the lin.s of Tientsin is now scouted. Tlie Associated Press of Great Britain, in a message from Shanghai, says it is estimated that 6000 Japanese have landed in the Shanghai area. The nature of the intended action is not disclosed. Th. occupation of tlie International Settlement is suggested, but Japan has stayed her hand because of a dilemma as to where she stands under the Russo-Ger-man Agreement. All leave of British troops has been cancelled.

Riots occurred because of the high cost of rice resulting from the currency collapse. Many persons were arrested. It is reported from Shungking that Russia is massing troops on tlie Manchukuo border. PROTEST TO BRITISH AMBASSADOR TOKIO, August 24. The Nanking puppet Governm nt has sent a strong protest to the British Ambassador in China, Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, regarding tlie incident on August 19 in which .Sergeant Kin-loch returned the fire of puppet police, killing two of them. BALTIC STATES Pact Causes Relief

TALLINN. August 24

The Russo-German Pact has caused considerable relief in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, which regard their neutrality as having been strengthened because it is not believed that Russia and Germany trust each other in the Baltic. The general question of guaranteeing the Baltic States is regarded as dead. ITALIAN COMMENT Refusal To Believe War Will Come iI mlcpendent Cable Service.) ROME. August. 21. The Press headlines the signing of the Moscow pact. "Il Messagero” says that, the pact does little to justify the war measures taken by the democratic Powers, ami adds that neither Britain nor France, nor even Poland, is endangered. "It is reason itself which is endangered.” it states. "We refuse to believe that the extreme step will be taken.”

NO MILITARY LEAVE LN

PALESTINE

PALESTINE, August 24. All police and military leave in Palestine has been stopped.