SOVIET PROVISOS GIVE RAY OF HOPE

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 11

SOVIET PROVISOS GIVE RAY OF HOPE

Germany Not Free to Attack Poland

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, August 23.

(Received August 24, at 11 a.m.)

A message from Berchtesgaden says a communique states: —ln compliance with the wish of the British Government the Fuhrer received Sir Nevile Henderson, who handed him a letter from Mr Chamberlain, phrased on the same lines as last night’s Cabinet statement. The Fuhrer left Sir Nevile Henderson in no doubt that the obligations Britain had undertaken .could not cause Germany to renounce the pursuance of her national vital interests. The North American Newspaper Alliance, in a special despatch from Moscow, states that Russian officials emphasise that a clause is being inserted whereby the pact is nullified in the event of either signatory attacking a third Power. The Russians want to indicate that the pact does not automatically give Hitler the opportunity for a policy of squeeze against Poland; they also wish to dispel ideas that the Germans are now at liberty to attack Poland. A Moscow message states that Herr von Ribbentrop left the Kremlin after a three-hour conversation. No indication was given as to whether or when the conference was resuming. Bystanders gaped with amazement at the bullet-proof car, flying the swastika, which Russians had been taught to hate, followed by cars conveying secret police. Hundreds of extra police cleared the streets.