TIMELY STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 162, 6 April 1944, Page 5

TIMELY STATEMENT

Soviet Union And Rumania AXIS SATELLITES’ FUTURE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received April 5, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, April 4

The Russian Government’s attitude in respect of the independence of Rumania has undoubtedly made a good impression in Britain. This reinforces the impression made by Moscow’s moderation and restraint in dealing with Finland, and it conies at a timely moment. Anxiety has been expressed in some quarters lately about the co-ordination of policy between the three major allies, and Mr. Churchill was asked in the House of Commons today whether the machinery for consultation which was set up last year was working satisfactorily in view of the recent Russian advances. Mr. Churchill replied that M. Molotov’s declaration ou Rumania was particularly satisfactory. The Russian Government had sent Britain a copy of the statement beforehand, and Britain had expressed her admiration of it. ‘ I am sure it is likely to be a great help in the problems of our common war effort,' Mr. Churchill added. » “The Times,” in commenting on. the subject, says that Mr. Churchills intimation disposes of the German insinuations of dissension within the Allied ranks, and that is perhaps the least of its consequences. Of greater relevance is the assurance in the Russian declaration that, great as the errors are which the satellites have committed and great as is the harm they have done, there nevertheless will be a future for them in the new Europe if they are resolute enough to throw off the yoke. The alternative is to pay the full price of German defeat. Summing up the Russians’ attitude toward the Rumanians [says a Press Association report] a commentator in the “Red Star” says: “We don’t confuse. the small Rumanian thieves with the millions of Prussian, Saxon and Bavarian bandits who came to us for living space. At the same time we remember the Rumanians deeds at Odessa and Sebastopol. The jackal shall receive his due.”