BRITAIN DENOUNCED

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN DENOUNCED

AGGRESSIVE POLICY ALLEGED SPEECH BY SOVIET PREMIER ' [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] (Recd. November 1, October 31 . M. Molotov, the Soviet Premier, the Moscow time, before the joint session of both C^ a “^. of Supreme Soviet Council, in St. Andrew s Hall of British, a report received from the Moscow correspondent of Unl The P session voted on an agenda comprisinsr e P“‘ s on foreign policy, and reports of the West Ukrainian and Western Sian Deno g unting Britain as an aggressor, M. Mo ’otov that Germany was striving for peace. “The continuation of the war for the restoration of Poland is senseless, ’ he said.

Discussing the chances of Russo-Ger-man relations, due to the partition of Poland, M. Molotov declared that the Polish rulers boasted of their might, but the Russian and German armies swiftly shattered them. “Poland —this monstrous product of Versailles —was crushed, and Britain and France brought her no help. We are not aware of what guarantee they gave to Poland. ■ “This war will make fundamental changes in * Europe and the whole world. The traditional policy of un : principled Russian-German manoeuvring, playing off one against another, has suffered complete bankruptcy. We now have friendly relations between us, as reflected in the Moscow treaty of September 28. This radical change will affect the entire international situation. “CAMOUFLAGED DEMOCRACY” “Britain and France, although aware that the continuance of the war for Poland is absurd, do not desire it to be stopped. They seek new excuses to prolong the war with Germany. The British and French ruling circles attempt to appear as champions of the rights of democracy against Hitlerism. Britain announces that her war aim is the destruction of Germany. Germany is now striving for peace, but Britain, which until yesterday was against aggression, is now for war. It is not only senseless, but criminal, to wage such a war for the destruction of Hitlerism, camouflaged as a fight for democracy. The fear of Germany’s claims to Britain and French colonies is at the bottom of the war. The war between Germany and the AngloFrench bloc is only in the first stage. It has not yet really developed. The changes which it will cause will make the old formulas inapplicable, and this must be remembered in judging the new European situation. M. Molotov continued: “A strong Germany is necessary to European peace, but the British and French ideological war with Germany recalls medieval religious wars. The Allies fear the loss of world supremacy. This war promises nothing to the workers but bloody sacrifice and hardship. Hitlerism may be accepted or rejected, but not through force.” RUSSIAN POLICY. \ ‘ ' M. Molotov added that the main points of Russian policy were a free hand in International affairs, the continuation of neutrality, and trying to halt and not to spread the war. Russia had been neutral, and had inform- ’ ed all Embassies of that fact when she entered Poland, where 737 Russians were killed and 1,862 wounded. The Red Army captured 900 guns,

10,000 machine-guns, 300,000 rifles, 300 planes, and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition. M. Molotov announced that Russia was demanding a pact from Finland, similar to those which made the Baltic States protectorates. The Soviet was interested in the Gulf of Finland, but did not want the Aaland Islands. She was not making demands from Sweden, or from Norway. Finland had rejected Russia’s terms, as violating her neutrality. M. Molotov reproached Mr. Roosevelt for interfering in Russo-Finnish relations. He denied that Finnish independence was threatened. “Russia had offered Finland an exchange of territory, in order to protect Leningrad, but this was rejected. America’s revision of the Neutrality Act would only prolong the war, and would enable munitions makers to make profits. " Russia’s policy had been to break up the Versailles Treaty, created by Britain and France, with the help of the United States, ensuring the defence of Russia and the Baltic States, and not interfering with other countries.”

Regarding the Turkish negotiations, Russia wanted a mutual assistance pact, limited to the Black Sea to prevent enemy ships entering, but Turkey refused. Russia was ready for a vital, improvement in Russo-Japanese relations and trade talks were imminent.

M. Molotov made no promise of military help to Germany, but said it was desired to develop Russian-German economic relations, to their mutual benefit.

M. Molotov spoke for 90 minutes. The Council adopted his report unanimously, without discussion, after giving him an ovation.

MOSCOW EN FETE.

NEW TERRITORY CELEBRATION.

(Received November 1, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, October 31

Celebrating the incorporation of Western White Russia and Western Ukraine in the Soviet, Moscow is beflagged and in a holiday mood. Thousands of workers assembled this afternoon at Belorusski station, where they saw high officials welcome the White Russian and Ukranian delegations, who subsequently participated in the Supreme Council meeting. Thousands, of delegates from European and Asiatic Russia, picturesquely costumed gave M. Stalin and his Ministers an ovation lasting for ten minutes. . The Foreign visitors at the Kremlin 1 included representatives of the belli- • gerent countries, except Poland. En- ■ voys of neutral countries were also . present.