SUSPICION AND DRIFT

Evening Star, Issue 25634, 7 November 1945, Page 5

SUSPICION AND DRIFT

"Big Three" Relations Russian Policy Beyond Rational Understanding (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.)

(Rec. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 6. More than usual interest attaches to the speech which Generalissimo Stalin is making to-morrow during the traditional celebrations of the anniversary of the Russian revolution. With international relations in the present state of suspicion and drift, with all the atmosphere caused by the influence of atomic bomb, with Mr Attlee on the eve of going to America for talks with President Truman, anything that Stalin says will be subjected to close scrutiny. It is hoped here that the Soviet leader will give some cause for greater anticipation of improved relationships between the three Powers than at present exists. Latest, reports (from Moscow suggest that the atmosphere there is better than it has been, that improvement began after Mr Harriman's visit to Stalin, and that the Russian Press, which is the barometer of official attitude, is giving greater space to the remarks of >. British and American' statesmen. Whether this is optimistic thinking remains to be seen. One thing is certain, and that is that Russia has not been

having a very good Press in Britain lately. Her attitude at the London conference, her refusal to,take part in the 1.L.0. conference in Paris and the conference in Quebec, her ruthless ac- ' tions in the States on her western frontier, and, as Mr Bevin remarked, her " constant unilateral action," together with her heavy suspicious mood, have all combined to make people here wonder how co-operation with Russia is , going to be possible. RUSSIA'S FEARS. • It is noted that M. Kalinin made two significant points in a Tecent speech: . One that Russia still apparently fears attack from the outside world, and the

other that the Soviet was not. anxious 'for its people to be " contaminated " by the mode of living in other council. Molotov has almost contemptuously brushed aside requests by British and American correspondents to end the censorship which was applied throughout the war to their reports. The latest reliable reports from Berlin and the area of Germany where British and Russian troops come in contact declare frankly that the British, once quite yro-(Russian, have become largely anti-Russian, due to the behaviour or some of the Soviet troops and also the system of segregation, together with the language difficulty, which prevents them getting to know one another. .. STRIPPING GERMAN ZONE. All reports indicate _ that the Russians are stripping their German zone both of food and industrial equipment, and their reported reason for so doing is the devastation, caused by the Germans to Russian territory, which will take years to repair. -This, of course, by way of reparations, but their

methods are such that it is stated that their zone is becoming a desert. They partly explain their Actions by saying that America, with her plenty, could help Russia if she so desired, but that it is not forthcoming, therefore the Russians must adopt a " realist " policy. MILLIONS HOMELESS. Apparently there was some misunderstanding about the recent reports that 4,500,000 Germans would be expelled from the Russian zone into the Birtish, but expulsions have been going on for some time, not only from the Russian zone, but from Czecho-Slova-kia, Poland, and Hungary, so that there are millions of Germans homeless and hungry to-day. ' The British view regarding Germany is that while there is no sympathy for Germany as the nation which started the war and was ruthless and unfeeling where victorious, Europe as a whole will suffer if Germany is not restored to "working order."

It is maintained that Germany must never be allowed to become a military nation again, but she must be regarded as an economic whole and not become a European slum. All the present tendency is for Germany to be divided into western and eastern zones, each being controlled by a different system. In fact, it is remarked that Germany is still a major political problem and that a new Potsdam is required. In light of these manifold differences and difficulties between the three Great Powers, together with differences of opinion in the Far Eastern threatre, Stalin's speech, as stated, will receive more than usual attention, since it could mark the point where the drift apart of the victorious Allies is checked and a return to closer co-operation attempted. If its tenor is constructive and more friendly towards the Western Powers, then the outcome of Mr Attlee's talks with President Truman will be awaited with more hopefulness than at present.

RUSSIAN ENIGMA. The ' Manchester Guardian's ' comment on the present situation is: " There is hardly a point at which Russia touches her former Allies where any progress towards joint working can be reported, but there are innumerable cases in which Rußsian action has introduced fresh embarrassments, suspicions, and exasperation. The desperate state of Germany and Austria has been greatly worsened; Soviet policy has passed beyond rational understanding. We may trust that Stalin will at least put it on an intelligible footing. Then we shall be nearer to knowing where we stand and on what terms wo can secure the [friendship between Russia and the I Western Allies that she seems so relluctant to encourage."