RUSSO-GERMAN PACT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 99, 24 October 1939, Page 9

RUSSO-GERMAN PACT

ITS IMPLICATIONS

SOME DIFFERING THEORIES

A LABOUR MAN'S VIEWS

!<By Air Mail. From "The Post's' London Representative.) LONDON, September 26. After a period of perplexity following the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, a number of theories have been formed as to its ultimate result. They range from a' belief that tlie Nazis and Communists''will eventually fall out to the assumption that, since Nazism has much in common with Communism, the two political systems will unite to found a new world economic organisation. There is also a theory that Russia is reviving the policy of world revolution, and that she will proceed with i it, assisted by Germany or in spite j of her. Many people are inclined to j believe that a Germany beaten by the j Western democracies would prove v! fruitful field for the spread of Communism, and also that its roots, might be firmly established in the democracies themselves after a prolonged war.. Those, who are inclined to this way of thinking consider that Britain and France do not wish to beat Germany by'force of arms. On the contrary, they: are. hoping for an internal revolution which would have tlie comfortable result of ousting the Nazi Party and instituting either a democratic Government or one that would at least be anti-Communist." In some quarters it is held that Britain never intended' ari Anglo-Soviet Pact, since it was not desired to form an alliance with the Communists, who could later be expected to extend their influence in a defeated-Germany. ' MUCH SEEN IN COMMON. Those who believe that the Nazis will fall out with Soviet Russia apparently .base their assumptions on the previous enmity of the two political regimes and the continual bickering that has been the fashion since Germany has been ruled by the Nazis. To many it appears to be a convenient way of the Nazis being beaten in the present war. . On the other hand, there is the theory that these two political systems have much in common and that a stronger association can be expected. It is expounded in the "New Statesman and Nation"-by-. Mr. Wilfred Wellock, a former Labour M.P., a journalist and propagandist. He declares that the Nazi system, far -from being monopoly capitalism, has been undermining with considerable rapidity the power of private finance and the entire citadel of capitalism, in .Germany... Mr. Wellock draws the conclusion that the fulfilment of the' Nazi purpose on the foreign front necessitated national planning: and complete national control of <;the ■nation's? financial andr economic resources, .involving, eventually, the liquidation? fof I ca&ifali£h&" He: declares that Russia liliSivmiyVrifare' in. common with Nazi #efmah^? thin with Imperialist BritaM,; arid-mat :the Russo-German Pact is the--most 'im-: portant, international everitr&riee th£ Russian Revolution of 1017v~- '-• '; y-'■''-'■-. .Discussing the "endrhious-l p^ssibili^ ties'? of-the pact, -he .'safii LyA'x: A". 'JC"l<n ■ Germany it ma?" HriV'e -policy m&re- strongly Leftward?-'and lead :t6' th& incorporation of: Left elenfeiits- hi the Nazi admmistratipnV';attd r thus,to : growing revolt from, -and the-persV cution- of, the Right: -It will remove* alLprospect of.a Left or people's Vising against Hitler should the-war be continued: Such circumstances would conVert the war into an "ideological!conflict between two forms of totalitarianNational Socialism on the one side and democratic imperialism on the Ofher. ■- "In Russia it may revive the policy of world devolution. MENACE OF PROTRACTED WAR. "In Britain (and France) these changes Would give rise to a new alignment pf political parties on the issue of the war. Even now it is clear that any attempt to restore the old regime in Poland would involve war with Russia. Hence the extreme Left may be expected to withdraw its support of the war at an early date. The Labour Party will be divided, the bellicose official section going all out for a fight to a finish, arid a very big proportion of the rank and file- following the lead of the Left. The capitalist classes are also faced with a dilemma. Victory in a war against Germany and Russia is problematical, while dictatorship either of the Left or Right will be inevitable after a large-scale war; arid the course of events in Germany has weakened the ardour for Fascism. The-inference is obvious. "A totting-up of these items reveals that prudence no less than wisdom demands an early ending of hostilities. Also it is clear that the original aims of the war cannot now be attained, and that its probable outcome would be European revolution. "As regards the longer view, perhaps two things can be said: First, that Germany and Russia are likely to pursue with almost evangelical zeal the idea of a new world economic organisation on the foundation of Socialist or National Socialist States, whence we may' expect country after country to he remodelled after the pattern, say. of the States within the Union of Soviet Republics. This policy will carry with it an attack upon the empires, which, owing to the revolutionary ferment that is likely to be developed, may be carried out mainly by means of propaganda. In any case, capitalist Gov-/ ernments will be too afraid of revolution to venture on war in defence of imperial interests. TO SAVE DEMOCRACY. "Second, that in the circumstances which will follow the present disturbances, the capitalist States will quickly arrive at an impasse, when they will be compelled to adopt Socialism either via democracy or, as Germany has proved, via dictatorship, even of the Right. As many British capitalists realise what has happened in Germany, they may be sufficiently alive to the fact that they will.come out better if they accept Socialism via constitutionalism than via dictatorship. . It may be 'wtll," .therefore, that in the difficult times ahead, an awakened capitalism may constitute, the main bulwark :of democracy, notwithstanding the big demands that will be made upon it. "If in this way democracy can be saved in Britain, it may turn out to be of inestimable value to the human race, for, despite the achievements of Russia, the way of escape from totalitarianism has yet to be found. Thus •a great responsibility rests upon the big democratic States, and tn particular upon Britain, in this respect Happily sufficient facts are now available to proves that dictatorship is unable to preserve . the privileges <*f capitalisfn or to restore democratic freedom once it has been, destroyed."