SOVIET POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 30, 3 August 1940, Page 11

SOVIET POLICY

MOLOTOV'S SPEECH

COMMENT IN LONDON

MEANING NOT CLEAR

LONDON, August 2. London comment on the speech of the Russian Premier, M. Mojotov, is concerned chiefly with his reference to Soviet-British relations, which, he said, had not essentially changed.

While this view is not entirely understood here, it is even more difficult to appreciate M, Molotov's statement that British-Soviet, relations cannot be expected to develop favourably because of the hostile acts committed by this country against Russia. ,'

Although M. Molotov's version of recent history is not accepted by the British Government, there is no inclination to enter into recriminations about the past, whether remote or recent.

The main interest centres on M. Molotov's statement that the appointment of Sir Stafford Cripps as Ambassador to Russia probably does reflect a desire* on the part of Great Britain to improve relations with the Soviet Union. The comment here is that the appointment was not probably, but certainly, an expression of Britain's desire to improve relations with Russia.

MOSCOW, August 1. M. Molotov, in his speech, stated: "The establishment of diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia must be particularly emphasised. Our relations with Bulgaria are normal-

"France, Belgium, and Holland have large colonies which they cannot defend as strongly as previously, and the question of a distribution of colonies is therefore becoming more acute. The Imperialistic appetites are whetted, not only in Japan, but also in the United States, where covetous amateurs are dissimulating their Imperialist plans under the banner of anxiety for the interests of the Western Hemisphere.

"All this threatens to convert the war into an Imperialist world war. The Soviet, therefore, must be keenly vigilant regarding her external policy while strengthening all her internal and external positions-"