Soviet’s War Effort

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

Soviet’s War Effort

Sir,—You have had correspondents lately criticising the efforts of various local citizens in their attempt lo express a growing feeling of public •gratitude towards the Soviet Union for a truly magnificent war effort. Mr. Coates spoke truly on Sunday evening when he advised New Zealanders to avoid petty bickering, and as I consider the above correspondents are not doing this, I feel free to present the following facts: —

Firstly, 1 would mention to “Friend of Britain” that Mr. Churchill has stated in the Commons that this war is only a continuation of the last, so that correspondent’s figures with regard to time of preparation appear to be well astray. Secondly, the present war started with a number of doubtful politicians in power in some countries. Their type of administration was shown up by the quick collapse of Poland, France, etc., and their own disappearance —followed in some instances by reappearance as a "Quisling.” ’ This collapse was due to the external and interna] doubts and divisions engendered bv their policies I think we must lay the blame for Russia's late start in the war on earlier French and English diplomacy "John Bull” states we have put up a good fight—which we have, considering the preparations made —yet his partisan “Friend of Britain” denies it. inasmuch as he reasons that a country’s war effort should be in direct proportion to size of territory and available man-power. The British Empire occupies a large part of the earth’s surface and has over double Russia's population, so following "Friend of Britain’s” reasoning, one is entitled to wonder why we were so ill prepared when war came and perhaps. to reason further, from this weakness, that a change in our economic system—not our constitutionmight promote greater strength and security. ANTI-NAZI.