PLEDGES TO CZECHS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 4

PLEDGES TO CZECHS

RUSSIAN INTENTIONS

ASSISTANCE TO BE SENT

The Soviet T^nion will ■ fulfil: all her pledges to Czechslovafeia on condition that France does the same. This statement was made today by a high official herp in a deliberately casual and informal way, but it can be accepted as an expression of a decision, finally and irrevocably reached, wrote the Moscow correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post" on' March 17. " 7 ''''"' :V \ .''"'.'":'

■ I am'not allowed to divulge the name of the man who made it—the Soviet is very secretive in these things. It suffices to say that no one could spsak with greater authority.

The statement was carefully timed to follow- M. Blum's more formal assurance to the same effect given to the Czech Minister in Paris, and may.be regarded as equally conclusive':

. It also follows'the French communique declaring that -the Supreme Council of.National;:Defehce in, Paris .^already; 'Working out, ;:in co-operation wittMihe Czechoslovak1'; G.eneralv ;Staff, the.best arid swiftest way for Franceto help Czechoslovakia.v. , >, ;;■■'.'■ '.'■ .■■■'.

For. that reason-the remark: pf the .high Soviet •'•official;"; when .reminded that Russia had -no common ■■frontier with' Czechoslovakia,..-is • highly>;'signi-, ficant. He. declared:,"A corridbj; must be, created." ,' \ :•''■ :•'■'.•■',\" '■ ':''.r ;<-"""■':?.."' -.'. ":':::■. STAFF,'dISCUSSIONS./;:3"" : Such, a;statement, could 6nly:have been made- after ;precise plans,- both political1 and military, had'.beeri.Vdrawn up between Moscow and Prague as to the best way of supplementing Russia's plans to help ■'•the- Czechs if the latter should become the victim of an unprovoked aggression. . It is no secret, that during past years and months prolonged: and frequent conversations have taken place between tfte staffs of the Czech and Russian, armies. •:' No General Staff can judge its plans of/campaign in : advance; and, Russia is. the most: secret country in the world. The . only information .communicated by the Soviet authorities; is 'a denial that there has been any movement of troops. ■'■■;'■ • But Marshal Voroshiloff has repeatedly declared that the great garrisons of Western Russia are kept in a state of preparedness, both in training and munitions.. '■ ; : ." .'■' ::■;;''■/■.'■•; Admittedly the absence, of all •common frontiers is the most.awkward problem, political or military,' ;cbnr fronting the experts of 'the, two ernments: This problem;' .however, existed. already at the time the pact of,. Mutual Assistance was: signed, and. it would be a mistake! to think they were now taken by surprise.. ,■ :-. •', It is impossible to read Herr Hitler's mind.'.Moscow,- like Paris and' Prague, is convinced of the necessity of making quite clear to, him that she is, prepared and ready .to fulfil her treaty obligations. ,: .• .:. . ■.-.■ ■ ■ ' : ,..;,.' ' ■■' , •"'■ the air route,.,:;;.;; "■■.■■ The air problem is; fairly*.: obvious arid comparatively easy. . If; Czechoslovakia were .invaded.by an;'*.aggressor the Red AiriForce, whose strength is np'i secret, .could send large numbers of planes to help the .'Czechs, flying them,at a great height over, for instance, the corner, of Rumania, along the route followed by the MoscowPrague air line. The Germans and Italians have successfully used .1. this means of getting their planes to Spainl . The • problem of troops ' "is a much graver, one.': B u t this,- in its- first stage at least, a political problem has certainly been thought out. After' all, the .League Covenant is still in force. .. If Czechoslovakia became the victim of. an aggression she would immediately invoke Article 16, under which Poland and Rumania are, like everybody else, pledged. to allow the. passage of troops across their-ter-ritories' when' the aggression has been proved.- , ■■■ ' . .'.■■•■ The Rumanian route from Russia to Czechoslovakia,'forms a.poor and primitive line of communication. The centre of the whole problem: is Poland, whose "iaeas "'on 'the-passage'of ■'Red 'troops through.her, territory are, well known.' ■': ••■.-' - ... •/■ . . ■:" ■. I can only repeat that— in. view of the nature .of the problems, both, poll, tical and military, involved—the "high Soviet official" declares that "a cor r ridor-must'Be-.created.!';.-' Or.if Poland. .:today ndtjfinger^likes. the .word : "corridor," thetrVlet us ; say a "way must.be found. ry *'' f---^ : - : \ r