Evening Post WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1939. THE LATEST CRISIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 46, 23 August 1939, Page 10

Evening Post WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1939. THE LATEST CRISIS

Coming on top of the negotiations for a 1 military agreement which J Britain and France have been pursuing with the Soviet Government at Moscow for months, the announcement yesterday that Russia and Germany had concluded a non-aggression pact has inevitably startled the whole world. What, the "pact" contains has not yet been made public. It is reported that it pledges the parties —Russia and Germany—to abstain from attacking each other; that in event of one party being the victim of attack by a third party, the other will remain neutral, and, finally, and, if it is correct, most importantly, that in the event of either committing an act of aggression the other may denounce the agreement. Pending confirmation of the details, further comment on this aspect of the agreement would be purely hypothetical. The fact remains that the conclusion of any pact of this nature between Russia and Germany must affect most profoundly the situation in which Poland and her guarantors, Britain and France, find themselves with ominous and formidable concentrations of German armed forces on the Polish borders. The veriest layman can see from the map that with German territory lying to the north and west of Poland and German troops mobilised in full strength in Slovakia to the south, the military position of Poland, without the prospect of active assistance from Russia in the east, is exceedingly difficult. It is in fact little better than that of Czechoslovakia in a similar crisis twelve months ago. Both countries suffer from inaccessibility by sea and land to outside assistance. To ignore such a situation would be foolish. The outlook therefore is grave. Now, is Poland to suffer the fate of Czecho-Slovakia? The answer, so far as Britain and France are concerned, is, emphatically, No. The British Government fully recognises the gravity of the position. Cabinet has met and Parliament has been summoned to meet tomorrow. The following announcement has been cabled: The Government expresses the opinion that there is nothing in the difficulties between Germany and Poland to involve a European war. The Government, is ready to create conditions of confidence. If, despite all efforts, others insist on the use of force, the Government is prepared and determined to resist to the uttermost. Cabinet unhesitatingly declared that the Russo-Gerrnan pact would in no way affect the Government's obligations towards Poland, which they were determined to fulfil. This should make Britain's position crystal-clear. Britain will stand by the pledge given to Poland at the end of March last and reiterated in various forms by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary since. Britain stands for the dual policy of resistance to aggression and settlement by negotiation. Preliminary steps have been taken accordingly to place Britain in the position to take such action as is necessary in the terms of her obligations to Poland. Whether this means war or not depends on one man, Herr Hitler, and his decision. It may be taken that any attack by Germany on Poland, resisted by Poland with her national forces, will involve Britain in war. France is taking similar steps in full solidarity with Britain. In the meantime there is natural speculation on the meaning of Russia's action in entering into an agreement with Germany while conducting talks with the British and French military missions. The news of the non-aggression pact, has come as such a surprise to the Governments of Britain and France that comment is withheld. An Official Wireless message states that the full significance of the announcement that Herr yon Ribbentrop was flying to Moscow to sign the pact cannot yet be appreciated. The news was received in London too late for general Press comment, but the "Daily Mail" takes the view that "caution counsels that we should await fuller details before considering the implications of this new development.' The "Daily Herald" describes the pact as "one of the most astounding and most shocking reversals of policy in history." American comment also recognises the gravity of the situation, and official quarters in Washington express the opinion that it will spur President Roosevelt's drive to amend, the Neutrality Act in favour of Britain and France. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the situation is the curious calmness observed in Poland which puzzles even the Germans. It is reported in Warsaw that Poland is not surprised, as more than once it pointed out that the Soviet did not desire to involve itself in European affairs. Other countries might have spared themselves the disappointment n they had heeded Polish views. It stated that the Polish programme and policy never envisaged Russian help. If this is the the calm confi-

I dence of Poland is an inspiration to her guarantors in the West. In this latest and most acute crisis |of all, the duty of citizens of the British Empire is to stand firm and await the course of events with the assurance that all has been done that could be done to avert an appeal to force, and that the British people can face the future, whatever it brings, with a good conscience and faith in their cause and their power to defend