CONFIDENCE IN ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 8, 4 October 1941, Page 9

CONFIDENCE IN ALLIANCE

Attitude Toward Soviet RESULT OF TALKS Modesty Of Russian Supply Requests (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 3, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 2. Though discretion is necessary concerning the actual goods Britain and the United States have promised to Rusisa they can be said to include large amounts of munitions, arms, machine tools and raw materials, says a special correspondent of “The Times” in Moscow. One of the most important results of the conference has been the reaffirmation to Britain and America of Russia’s determination to fight to the end. Wild talk about Moscow keeping the door open for peace can be emphatically discounted while M. Stalin remains at the head of the Government. Another result has been a renewal of confidence of the English-speaking world over Russia’s ability to maintain: the struggle and resist the furious German attacks. The visiting missions were greatly impressed with the moderation of the Russian requirements, which apparently demonstrates the success with which the' country’s economy has been able to withstand and absorb the shock of the initial German impact. The modesty of the Russian requests was one of the chief contributory factors in the swiftness with which the conference was concluded. To tills may be added the careful preliminary preparations in London and Washington and M. Stalin’s continual willingness to cut through red tape and discuss bard facts at any hour with Lord Beaverbrook and Mr. Harriman. How the payments are to be made is not announced, but this was not a vital feature of the discussions. Not Commercial, But Strategic. "The Times” in a leading article says: “This transmission or exchange of the means of making war is not adequately described by the phrase ‘help to Russia.’ There has been a council of war in Moscow among a staff of the combined forces operating against the single enemy. “Its immediate response has been to devise a plan for making the maximum resources of the confederacy available at whatever segment of the common line the battle may be most critical. Thus the essential purpose of the conference was not commercial, but strategic. The limits of contribution from the British Empire and the United States are more likely to be set by considerations of transport than of production. “Very great differences in social structure and political thought divide the three members of the confederacy. The growth of mutual understanding which will flow from the process of combined action will moderate the differences, though doubtless it will not obliterate them entirely. “We have already learned that these differences are of quite another order from those dividing us from Hitlerism. Our common detestation of that barbarous creed has brought home to us what we have in common with our new brothers in arms.”

WORK WITH STALIN

Appreciation Of Britain’s Problems LONDON, October 2. Lord Beaverbrook, at a Press conference in Moscow, indicated how the three-Power conference was able to complete its work rapidly and successfully. ' “M. Stalin, Mr. Harriman, and I received, detailed reports from our members on the committees,” he said. “Then every night we co-ordinated the findings at the Kremlin. We worked every night—M. Stalin, M. Molotov, Mr. Harriman, and I—with M. Litvinov as our only interpreter.” The Russians, Lord Beaverbrook added, were very pleased indeed with the result of the conference. He could not praise their attitude too highly. They had shown remarkable aptitude for understanding Britain’s problems. The speed with which they would get the material promised them was indicated by the speed of the conference. Mr. Harriman said he was leaving a number of American experts in Moscow to handle technical details, and some United States officers were going to Moscow in connexion with the supply of aircraft and other equipment.

The leaders of the British and United States missions told their Press conference that they had handed to M. Stalin personal messages from Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt. M. Molotov described the President and the Prime Minister as the most important statesmen of their age, and expressed Russia’s appreciation of their initiative in suggesting the conference. The arrogant Hitler, he said, was never confronted with such a combination of States as was represented at the conference, and Nazism would be erased from the face of the earth.