SOVIET UNION AND GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 7

SOVIET UNION AND GERMANY

Summary Of Relations On August 22, 1939, after FrancoBritish negotiations for a pact with Soviet Russia had broken down, a nonaggressiou pact between Germany and Russia was announced. In a subsequent statement , the Soviet Foreign Commissar, M. Molotov, said the pact was in the interests of both countries. He gave as one reason for the failure of the Franco-British negotiations the demand that Soviet troops should protect Boland in the event of German aggression against that country. Two articles of the pact state:— Article I.—The two contracting Bowers undertake to refrain from any act of force, any aggressive act and any attacks against each other both separately and in conjunction with any other Powers. Article 5. —In case differences or conflict should arise between the two contracting parties . . . the two partners, will solve these by friendly exchange of views, or if necessary by arbitration commissions. Following is a brief summary of Russo-German relations since the outbreak of the war, and Russian activities to expand her sphere of influence:—September 17, 1939. Soviet troops marched into Poland “to take under their protection the lives and property of the populations of western Ukraine and western White Russia." A joint .Russo-Ger-man communique published in Moscow said the aim of the Soviet and German troops in Poland was “to re-establish peace and order disrupted by the collapse of the Polish State, and to assist the population of Poland in reconstructing the conditions of their State existence.” September and October, 1939.—Russia obtained military, naval and air bases in Estonia. Latvia, and Lithuania. November 30, 1939.—Russia invaded Finland. December 14, 1939. —Russia expelled from the League of Nations following the invasion of Finland. December 16, 1939.—Hitler and von Ribbentrop sent messages of congratulation to Stalin on his 6<)tli birthday. All German papers contained congratulatory articles praising Stalin as “the greatest personality of the Soviet Union.” and bis "’statesmanlike vision.”

March 13, 1940. —Peace signed between Finland and Russia

July 1, 1940. —Rumania accepted the Soviet, demands for the cession of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina. King Carol was unofficially stated to have appealed to Hitler iu the matter, and that the latter advised him to “accept anything in the meantime.” August 3, 1940. —In a statement on the Soviet foreign policy, M. Molotov ridiculed the speculation in the foreign Press on the possibility of a disagreement between the Soviet Union and Germany. November 12, 1910.—M. Molotov visited Berlin at the invitation of the German Government, and had long conversations with Hitler and von Ribbentrop. The official German communique later stated iliac the exchange of views had led to ‘‘agreement on all important questions of interest, to Germany and the Soviet Union.” Complete silence on the visit, however, was maintained in. Moscow,