A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 307, 25 September 1939, Page 10

A SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION

A fresh spate of speculation has been caused by the announcement in Berlin of the line of demarcation between the German ana Russian “zones” of Poland. The reported agreement is certainly an astonishing one. for several reasons. . First, the idea of a Polish buffer State appears to have no place in the Russo-German scheme of things. Complete annexation is planned, in spite of the fact that Hitler has always posed as a champion of minorities and exponent of the gospel that there can be no peace in Europe until “bleeding frontiers are adjusted according to the national and racial affiliations of the people. Secondly, Hitler has agreed Io Russia- taking over practically half of Poland. If the arrangement is carried out, the German army will be obliged to disgorge a strip of territory running from Lithuania and East Prussia in the north, to Hungary in the south, and with an average width of nearly 100 miles. (See this morning’s map.) German troops, for example, had reached Lemberg, yet Russia is to have not only Lemberg, but also all the territory between Lemberg and Przemvsl—some 50 miles to the west.. Again, the Germans are at Brest-Litovsk; but the Russian zone is marked at Warsaw, 100 miles beyond and into the territory fought over and seized by the Nazis. - „ . . Russia is awarded not only the Ukraine, but also the Galician oilfields to the west. The German line is set back more than 100 miles from the Rumanian border —indeed, it does not even reach the Polo-Hungarian border. * * * * One commentator points to a curious anomaly: Wai saw, the Nazis state, is not being taken by storm because this would waste “precious German blood,” yet much German blood has been spilled in areas now to be handed over to the Soviet Government. The fact that the Germans have advanced-so far beyond the line of demarcation suggests strongly that the line was but recently agreed upon. What else was in this agreement.’* What undeitaking, if any, did Hitler receive from Russia in return for an accommodating withdrawal to the Warsaw-Przemysl line? lliese are anxious questions for Europe’s neutrals. One Moscow correspondent advances the theory that a move to undermine the AngloTurkish understanding is involved. The Red Army is reported to be carrying , out mopping-up operations in the south-east of Poland, and the Nazi High Command has asserted that the campaign in the east has. ended. Warsaws defiance alone disproves this claim, and in addition other isolated Palish forces are still holding out. * * * * Signor Mussolini has broken his silence to say that the moment has arrived to end hostilities. As yet, however, there is no sign of a definite “peace offensive.” The Rome correspondent of the A r cw York Tinies regards the Dtice’s speech, as pro-Italian rathet than pro-German, and sees no weakening of his neutral attitude. Belgian anxiety as to the turn events may take in the west is displayed by her action in flooding certain of her border territories in the north-east. * * * * On the Western Front there has been increased activity during the Reinforced from Poland, the Germans are pressing harder against the French advance, but their counter-attacks in the form of infantry waves have been repulsed. Tn the United States, where Italy is making increased.purchases of oil, the battle of the Neutrality Act is proceeding. Jhe latest messages suggest that opinion in favour. of lifting the embargo on sales to belligerent nations is strengthening steadily.