A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 3, 28 September 1939, Page 8

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

The Aims Of Russia

A BARGAIN REJECTED BY ALLIES

When the Red Army invaded and seized the eastern half of Poland, it was announced in London that the British Government was “not surprised.” Many people have felt that this comment was simply a piece of diplomatic after-wisdom. It appears, however, that it was the blunt truth, and for a very good reason:

Russia liad previously proposed to Britain and France that she should receive a largo part of Poland as the price of entering the democracies’ non-aggression group. Britain and France, having pledged their word cleanly to Poland, refused the bargain. Then Hitler came along, and was willing to let Russia into Poland in return for a most convenient Russo-German pact. . . . This behind-the-scenes story of the respective Anglo-French and German negotiations with the Soviet Government was told by a correspondent of the “New York Times” on August 24 — a week before Germany invaded Poland. Speaking of the mysteriously-protract-ed Anglo-French talks in Moscow, he said:

“Full military and administrative control of huge slices of Eastern Poland at the outbreak of a war was demanded by Russia during the last stages of the staff talks. Anglo-French “Insincerity” "The British and French had asked the Russians to supply Poland with aeroplanes and war material and also to concentrate their army on the Polish frontier without actually moving into Poland unless the Poles asked for help,” the correspondent added. “The Russians retorted that this was crowning proof of Anglo-French ‘insincerity,’ since the Western Powers wanted Russian help and yet hoped to keep the helpers at arm’s length. “The Russians thereupon demanded occupation of the provinces of Vilna and Novogradek, in the north-eastern salient of Poland, and the Galician provinces of Lwow, Tarnopol and Stanislavov, in the south-east. These provinces comprise all of Eastern Poland except the Pripet marshes. If such occupation could be agreed upon, the Russians argued l , they would be in a position to give military help to the Poles, but not till them.” Estonia In Peril?

After 20 years of existence as an independent republic, Estonia, one of the Baltic provinces lost to Russia by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk In 1918, faces an ultimatum from her former masters, the Russians.

About the same size as the North Island, and with a population of 1,100,000, Estonia was for centuries under Russian domination. After gaining her independence in 1918, an attempt was made by Communists to overthrow i the Government, but it failed. The pretext for the Russian ultimatum is ifhe escape of a Polish submarine from the Estonian capital aud seaport Tallinn, formerly known as Reva'l. Tallinn is situated on a bay in the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. It is reported that Russia is demanding a naval base and free passage of Russian trade through Estonia. By the 1918 treaty, Russia’s Baltic coastline (her direct communication with northern Europe) was cut down to the relatively small strip north and west of Leningrad. Though military service is compulsory, Estonia has a comparatively small standing army of about 30,000, and it is doubtful if she could place more than 100,000 troops in the field. She has a small air force and fleet, but because of her position in the Baltic, her merchant fleet, is relatively substantial. “Good Day, Mr. Mayor”

Germany’s preparation for the invasion and conquest of Poland did not rest with die massing of troops and war supplies. The efforts made to overcome the language barrier are shown by the distribution in the German-Pol-ish border town of Beuthen, just before the outbreak of hostilities, of pamphlets full of phrases written in Polish, phonetics and German. It is called “The Soldiers’ Language Guide.” The first phrase in the pamphlet is “Good day, Mr. Mayor.” In a foreword, Lieutenant F. Sulzberger, the author, says, “Always use the word ‘please.’ ” Under the cafytion, "Further Necessary Phrases” are:— “You have nothing to fear.”

“If you lie, you will be shot.” Sections are given over to how io query persons on directions and about the troops that have been seen in the neighbourhood. For soldiers on the march are such phrases as, “Houses out of which shots are fired will be burned to the ground.” Instructions to merchants for personal and army purchases are included. Germany’s Harvest

The Berlin .Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the harvest has been one of the best in the country’s history, being 27,400,000 tons, or 500,000 tons more than in 1938. Notwithstanding the industrialization of Germany, agriculture still absorbs almost 30 per eent. of all those who work for their living. The greater part of the country’s food is produced by the intensive cultivation of the soil, even though there are large districts where the latter is of relatively poor quality. None too rich though it is, her soil has nevertheless to support a population of about 360 to the square mile. The number of small and med-ium-sized agricultural undertakings is very large, which adds to the ditlicnltles of organizing them. The National Food Estate was set up in 1933 to organize and control agriculture, and embraces all persons associated not only with farming, but also witli the production and distribution of human food. The organization dealing with cereals, for example, directs the activity of rill Hie grain dealers, grain associations, mills, mill-produce dealers, and bakers. The proceeds derived from the sale ol agricultural produce increased in value from 6,400,000,060 to 8,800,000,000 reichsmarks during the three years following the introduction of the control system. France’s Senegalese Troops Reports that Senegalese battalions arc now lighting in France from Africa recall that during the Great War these colonial tfoops of France proved worthy fighters. Since 1823 Senegalese natives have 'been trained as soldiers by the French, and they have proved themselves in many campaigns. This French possession in West Africa has a population of upward. of 2,000,000.