REQUEST BY STALIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 89, 11 October 1941, Page 10

REQUEST BY STALIN

DIVERSION IN WEST

BRITAIN REPORTED TO HAVE

DECLINED

(Rec. 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 10.

Diplomatic circles in Washington intimated that they had information that M. Stalin had asked Britain for an immediate military diversion on the Western Front to relieve some of the German pressure on Russia, and that Britain had replied indicating her inability to provide a sufficiently large and equipped expeditionary force to achieve such a purpose.

The."Daily Mail" says: "Obviously the War Cabinet has examined all the possibilities of landing on the Continent, and considers the time not yet ripe.

"Winter is approaching, which is the worst time of the year to embark on a continental offensive, Britain can best help the Eastern Front by continuing to send as much material to Russia as possible. Should Moscow fall, the Russians could retreat to the Volga and hold that line throughout the winter. Russia has the manpower, and Britain and America have the machine-power. If between us we can equip the Russians, then next summer we should still have a great Allied army capable of a further prolonged effort."