RUSSIA DECLINES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 8

RUSSIA DECLINES

As seems to have been generally expected, thff Soviet Government has rejected the appeal of the League of Nations for a cessation of hostilities in Finland and settlement of the points at' issue by negotiations under the auspices of the League. It would be a waste of time to dissect the casuistry of the arguments used by the Soviet in its attempt to justify its invasion of Finland, and discount the status and qualifications of the League to intervene. The fact which remains is that the Soviet’s rejection of the League’s appeal is further proof of Russia’s definite alienation from her attitude of protest against aggression defined in the clearest possible terms by her previous Foreign Minister, M. Litvinov, in the League Assembly, and her alignment with the policy of terrorism and force. Whether Germany and Russia will march in parallel courses tn pursuance of their policies of aggression has been questioned. Some take the view that Russia is simply profiting by Germany’s preoccupation in her war with the Allies' and striking out on her own lines as opportunity offers. For what the Russo-German pact may be worth as a document stabilizing the policies of the two Powers in relation to each other and to external events, the following sentence from Article I of the agreement is significant: In the case of the war being continued (it states), joint consultations will take place between the German and Soviet Governments on the subject of necessary measures. In subsequent statements both Germany and Russia have placed on the Allies, by their rejection of Herr Hitler’s so-called “peace offer,” responsibility for the continuance of the war. In the light of the sentence above-quoted, therefore, and of the Soviet’s repudiation of the League as a competent and lawful authority, there seems no escape from the conclusion that Russia henceforth must be regarded as a potential enemy, using her strength and resources in attempts to prevent Germany from being defeated—as that would increase the power and influence of the Allies and other democracies —and also in applying checks at various points to Nazi aggression that would Weaken her own position. Russia now stands completely discredited in the eyes of the world, and the outlawry of her pestilential Communist philosophy by all civilized countries should follow as a • matter of logic and self-preservation.