ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1941, Page 4

ATTITUDE TO RUSSIA

MR. HUGHES CROSS i . "SYDNEY, July 17. The new British High Commissioner, Sir Ronald Cross, has already incurred the displeasure of the Minister J for the Navy, Mr. W. M. Hughes, as the result of an interview which Sir R. Cross allegedly gave to the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” yesterday, after his arrival. Sir R. Cross is reported to have stated that the Russian system was hated throughout the length and breadth of England, and that only a tiny majority thought it to be better than a dictatorship. Mr. Hughes, in answer to-day, said: “Russia is our ally, and those who hate her are certainly no friends of Britain. I commend Mr. Churchill’s speech to Sir Ronald Cross and remind him that Communism does not enter into our present relations with the Soviet. Neither does Russia’s alliance with Britain commit Russia to accept the ideology of democracy.” Sir R. Cross, when questioned tonight in regard to his interview, said that the newspaper in question had. taken the quotation out of its context. He agreed entirely with Mr. Churchill’s observations about Russia, which were made the day after the break with Germany. When asked whether he had made a statement that it was only a matter of opinion whether Nazism or Communism was worst. Sir Ronald Cross replied: “Surely nobody here will wish to argue about that—or will they?”

MR. MENZIES’ DISCLAIMER SYDNEY, July 17. Commenting on Mr. Hughes’ reference to Sir Ronald Cross, the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, said: “Mr. Hughes expressed his own views—not the Commonwealth Government’s views. “Sir Ronald is a highly-qualified man—fresh from Britain,” added Mi\ Menzies. “If he is not at liberty to make a statement respecting what he believes to be the opinion in Britain in regard “to Communism, then I mistake the functions of his High Commissionership.”