VIEW IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 307, 25 September 1939, Page 9

VIEW IN BRITAIN

Soviet Distrust Of Germany LONDON, September 22. It is stated in authoritative circles in London that although Russia has declared her neutrality so far as the major war is concerned, military experts will not be surprised by any developments. Russia appears to have invaded Poland in order to share the swag, but it is clear she does not trust Germany. Therefore, she may possibly even yet insist on a buffer State. A Paris message says that interesting light on Russian policy is shed by reports of M. Stalin’s conversations with representatives of States in which Moscow has displayed particular interest. , It is said that M. Stalin warned the Bulgarian delegation, before signing the Russian-German Treaty, to beware of being drawn into war on the side of Germany, because she was fated to be defeated. Thus the impression is formed that M. Stalin s policy is based on the idea that Britain will Anally win, but he»wants to prevent her winning cheaply, because it would lead to Anglo-Saxon hegemony in Europe, which would be dangerous to the future of Russian development. SOVIET OCCUPATION Reorganization Measures LONDON, September 22. The Tass (Soviet) Agency says that life in the occupied towns and villages in Poland is resuming normality. It is claimed that the local populations are jubilant over the Russian liberation and are co-operating in the work of reorganization, providing representatives on new administrative bodies and are electing peasants’ committees in the villages. Detachments of workers’ guards are being formed in the country districts to maintain order. Publication has begun of newspapers in Ukrainian and White Russian dialects. Theatre artists are arriving from Moscow and portraits of Stalin are appearing everywhere. The Bucharest corespondent of “The Times” says the Russians are reported to have let loose the peasantry in Poland. They are looting and seizing property on the large estates. Rumania Uneasy. President Moscicki and Colonel Beck are watching the interests of 100,000 fellow-refugees in Rumania, but their position under international law is obscure. The position is complicated by clear suggestions that unless they are promptly interned it would be regarded by Germany as a breach of neutrality. Rumania is studying the position. She is anxious punctiliously to observe neutrality, while preserving courtesy to Poland, with which country she has a friendly alliance. The Russian forces have revived uneasiness which has been latent since the occupation of Bessarabia. The Government has announced that it will grant fresh minority privileges to German communities in Bessarabia, presumably with the object of countering Russian designs. NAZI CAMPAIGN Germanization Methods NEW YORK, September 22. In justice to the Germans, states the “New York Times” correspondent from Bromberg, it must be said that the Poles improved little the former German territory they absorbed after the World War. Pioneer regiments and labour services are rapidly completing emergency repairs to permit of the economic life of the country resuming its course. In contrast with the south of Poland the war damage in the former German territories is slight. The most serious handicap is the destruction of the bridges. While the German armies still guard the conquered territory in eastern Poland to prevent any outbreak of hostility by the population, supplementary armies are already relieving them for the front line and taking over the organization of these regions in the service of Greater Germany. The supplementary armies consist mainly of police and members of the labour service. Nazi Party supporters and civilians, the number of whom cannot be estimated, are offering for governmental and economic duties. They are working under the double motto of reconstruction and Germanization. German names are replacing Polish names, and commissioners have control of shops and businesses. German is both the official and prevailing lan guage. All children, whether German or Polish, are attending German language schools, which the Germans claim to be the best nationalization agencies. The schools of the German Youth organizations are expected io kill the Polish national consciousness