Support For Russia

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 8

Support For Russia

Sir, —The letters appearing in Saturday's issue cull for an answer. Russia did not desert us in the last war. She collapsed on account of her rotten regime, but even hadSshe deserted us that would not reflect on the Russia of to-day, which did not let us down at the -start of this war. In regard to Manchuria. Abyssinia, Spain, Austria. Albania and Czechoslovakia our leaders refused to consider the proposals of Russia, which demanded a ‘‘firm and unambiguous stand" in every instance. Seeing' that six months before the war Stalin offered us a final opportunity to co-operate with him against aggression, is it to be wondered at that Russia became highly suspicious of the turn of events and decided to secure herself? Russia has not been preparing for war for 20 years against Germany’s eight. That hardy old “daily” the 40-hour week is also mentioned as being given short shrift in Russia, but the truth is that until attacked by Germany, Russia had by far the shortest working week in the world, except that for the past year all “war” industries worked 48 hours. When Germany attacked Russia she was not weaker but definitely stronger than two years earlier and was able to put 248 fresh divisions against Russia, which is over six times the number she has used anywhere else. The losses by Russia in six weeks are far greater than those of any other country. An overseas newspaper comments: “These men are playing the very game Hitler wants them to play. It was this blind and fanatical hatred of Soviet Russia shown by big business politicians which led to previous sabotage of the Anglo-Soviet alliance and

u-ought the world to its present impasse." and to confirm all this the News Chronicle, London, adds: “The Anglo-Soviet alliance is a miraculous gift which on our previous record, is undeserved.” VERITAS