Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1939. SOVIET INTERVENTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1939, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1939. SOVIET INTERVENTION.

F°R the second time, the Soviet has become “front page” news in Europe. Something in the nature of a sensation was caused by the Russian conclusion of a non-aggression pact with Germany, when, at the same time, negotiations for an agreement were in progress with Britain and France. An even-greater sensation, perhaps, has been caused by the news that Russian troops have crossed the Polish frontier.. According to AL. Molotov, Russia has no intention of abandoning her neutrality, and has acted merely to protect her own interests and the White Russian and Ukrainian minorities. He declared that the Soviet Government is willing to help the Polish people to escape “from the catastrophe into which they have been plunged through the adventurous and unscrupulous policy of their Government.” Judging by the past attitude of the Poles, they will regard the Soviet “cure” as worse than the disease. One of the obstacles to the conclusion of a pact between the democracies and Russia was stated prior to the outbreak of war to be the hostility of Poland towards the Soviet. Whatever the latter’s real intentions may be, —it is suggested in some quarters that her action has been partly inspired by the do-

minant position being established by the Nazis as a result of their Polish successes, —the interpretation placed upon the Russian intervention by Poland is clear, it being regarded by her as an act of aggression. The official statement of the Allied viewpoint is therefore awaited with keen interest.

Russia may persist in her declaration that she has not departed from a neutral policy, but the decision on that point lies in Anglo-French hands. If they decide, when the situation is clarified, that an act of aggression has in fact been committed, then their logical course would appear to be to declare war upon Russia, in fulfilment of their pledges to Poland, as they did against Germany. It is fairly clear that the Russian action has not come altogether as a surprise to Britain and France, and it may be assumed, therefore, that preparations have already been made to meet the new situation. At the same time, it will be difficult to regard the development with equanimity, particularly in view of the fact that the armistice reached by Russia and Japan in the Far East will allow the former freedom of movement for her forces in Europe. In view of the rapidly-changing state of affairs, speculation as to coming events is risky, but the United Press Berlin correspondent makes the prediction that, when the Russians and Germans have completed the conquest of Poland, the Nazis plan a move for peace. According to this prophet, Italy is to be given the support of German forces, in order to back up peace proposals to be made by Signor Mussolini, amounting to an ultimatum to Britain and France. Japan is also mentioned, her role being to threaten the British and French in the Far East, if the “ultimatum” presented by Italy is rejected. It is an interesting proposition, but Herr Hitler is extremely optimistic if he expects the democracies to be scared into making peace at any price. Meanwhile, the Russian invasion seems to have been the last straw, so far as organised Polish resistance is concerned. In the circumstances, considering the great strategic advantages possessed by the Germans, and their overwhelming superiority in men and equipment, the Polish army put up a gallant fight, and no disgrace attaches to such a defeat. The invaders had practically everything in their favour, and success in such a campaign cannot be regarded as adding any great lustre to the German arms. On the contrary, the ruthless manner in which open towns have been bombed, in spite of Herr Hitler’s promise to Mr. Roosevelt, is a standing reproach to any alleged-ly-civilised nation, and is on a level with the unrestricted submarine campaign. The reason given by the Nazis for the indiscriminate air-raids on non-mili-tary objectives, that the attitude of Polish civilians was a menace, is not convincing, and the real object of the barbarous methods adopted was probably to cause a breakdown of the Polish morale. There can be no justification for the intensive. t bombing of women and children, and such tactics will merely strengthen the resolution of the democracies to carry on to a finish the fight against Nazism and all its works. Herr Hitler has gained his aims in Poland, but he is facing a vastly-different proposition on the Western front, where the Allies have already given the enemy an unwelcome demonstration of their quality. The campaign in Poland constitutes merely an incident in the much-greater struggle now getting under way.