SOVIET ATTITUDE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20452, 13 January 1941, Page 5

SOVIET ATTITUDE

NO WISH TO QUARREL SUPPLIES TO GERMANY CLAIMS IN MOSCOW “PILLARS OF PEACE” (Reed. Jan. 13, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 11. The Sunday Times says there is a widespread impression in London that the trade pact between Russia and Germany is a disappointment to the Germans. Russia apparently does not wish to quarrel with Germany over non-essentials, being content to continue to provide Germany with oil. cotton, timber, manganese ore, and other raw materials. The Russian exports of cotton to Germany last year were fourfold greater than in 1939. The German news agency declares that Russia and Germany have completed the greatest grain deal in history. Many billions ol’ marks are involved. The agency added that Germany was receiving petroleum, ores and great quantities of cotton from Russia.

A Moscow message quotes Pravda as stating: “Despite enemies who try to drive a wedge, between us, Soviet Russia intends to pursue a peaceful policy towards Germany and towards any country exercising a sane attitude towards the Soviet.” Izvestia comments: “Leading politicians in Britain and America think that while the United States is permitted to sell everything to Britain, including warships, and still remain neutral, Soviet Russia is infringing the neutrality laws merely by selling grain to Germany. This is juggling with neutrality and international law, and Russia intends to ignore such an attitude. The fact is that stabilised economic relations between the world’s two greatest countries constitute them the main pillars of peace in the world.”

Izvestia states that Russia intends in 1941 to conclude economic treaties and agreements with belligerent and nonbelligerent States.