SOVIET REBUKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1939, Page 11

SOVIET REBUKE

TO BALTIC STATES

THE ANTI-AGGRESSION FRONT

The newspaper "Pravda," chief organ of the Kremlin, commenting on the negotiations for- an Anglo-French-Soviet alliance to resist aggression, again insists that the three neighbouring Baltic States—Latvia, Estonia, and Finland —must accept a Russian guarantee, reported the Moscow correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post" on June 13. .

This .reiteration of Russia's view comes on the eve of the arrival in Moscow of Mr. William Strang, head of the .Central European Department of the Foreign Office. His mission is to assist the British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, in accelerating the Anglo-Soviet negotiations.

On this occasion "Pravda," instead of screening itself behind quotations from foreign newspapers, directly attacks the Baltic Governments for rejecting Russia's aid.

It suggests that the. Foreign Ministers of Estonia and Finland were "un-, der the precise influence from outside, if not directly inspired by those wisning to prevent the creation of a wide anti-aggression front" when they reacted vehemently against- the Russian guarantee proposed by M. Molotov. Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Commissar.

BRITISH EXAMPLE

"Pravda" argues that the preservation of the neutrality of the Baltic States is a vital interest for the safety of the Soviet Union, and that Britain and France are not less interested than Moscow in protecting that neutrality.

An article by Mr,. Winston Churchill in the "Daily Telegraph" of June 8 is quoted as confirmation of this view.

"Pravda" goes on to contend that the Baltic States stand in need of a Tripartite guarantee because they could not resist aggression:

"If Czecho-Slovakia, with a population and an army twice the size of those of the combined Baltic States," it says, "could not, standing alone, resist aggression, how can we suppose that the three small Baltic countries do not need aid from.other Powers?"

The paper then deals with the argument that if the Baltic States accepted a direct guarantee they would lose tneir independent sovereignty.

"This is nonsense," it declares, "because Britain has accepted reciprocal guarantees from France, Poland, and Turkey, not to mention Belgium, whose neutrality is guaranteed by Britain and France, or Rumanii and Greece, whose independence is guaranteed by Britain." MINISTERS CHALLENGED. Finally, "Pravda" directly joins, issue j with the Foreign Ministers of Estonia and Finland, M. Setter and M. Erkko,! arguing that in their case "we are.con-1 fronted with a misunderstanding, .or a i badly-concealed desire to blow up the, defence front of the peaceful Powers! against aggression."

Emphasising that it is a vital interest of the Baltic peoples to receive aid in the event of attack, "direct or indirect," "Pravda" calls upon these two Foreign Ministers to explain their refusal to accept such aid.

The newspaper hints that their attitude is probably due to German influence or that "of certain reactionary circles in tlie democratic countries, trying to curtail aggression in some regions, and not minding its' development in other regions."

Another interesting point" in this article, obviously written in the Kremlin, is the claim that Rumania and Poland have now withdrawn their arguments against receiving a Russian guarantee. .