INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1936, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Stalin Speaks INTERVIEW WITH HOWARD. (By “Left Wing”.) Following is the conclusion of the Interview given by Al. Stalin, to the American Journalist Mr. Howard: ■ Al. Stalin said: — Under National “socialism” there is also only one party. But nothing will come out of this I Fascist one-party system. The position is that in Germany, capitalism’ remains, classes and the class struggle remain, and it will despite everything break into the open —and this means, too, the struggle of parties representing tho opposing classes —-just as it broke out, let us say, in Spain. In Italy, too, one party, namely the Fascist Party, . exists. But for the same reasons it will fare no better there either.

Why will our elections be univer sal? Because all citizens, with the exception of those- deprived by the courts of the right to vote, will have the right to vote and the right to be elected.

Why will our elections be equal?

Because neither the still existing differences with regard to property nor differences of race or nationality will give any privileges or cause any disadvantages. Women will enjoy the right to elect and be elected equally with men. Our elections will be really equal. Why will they be secret?

Because wi> want to give the Soviet people absolute liberty to vote for those thej- want to elect, to elect those they trust to ensure their interests.

Why direct? Because direct election on the spot for all representative bodies, right up to the supreme representative bodies, is a better guarantee of the interests of the working population of our boundless country. You think there will he no election struggle. But there will be. And I foresee a very animated election struggle. There are quite' a number of organisations in our country which function poorly. Sometimes it hapens that local Government body does not know how to satisfy one or another of the many-sided and over-increasing demands of the working population of town and countryside.

Have you or have yot not built a good school? Have you improved living conditions?

Atc you not a bureaucrat? Have you helped r > make our la hour more effective our life more cul tured?

Such will be the criteria with which millions of voters will approach the candidates, easting aside those who are unfit, striking them off the list 0 advancing better ones, nominating them for election. THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE. The Soviet Government saw a direct threat to world peace in the Italian Government’s attack on Abyssinia and. therefore demanded that the fullest and most effective us.e be made of the League and its sanctions machinery to preserve peace, France opposed sanctions, Britain failed to give a strong lead in support of the Soviet Union’s policy of peacle, some of the smaller powers have -weakened in face of the vacillating tactics of the larger powers, with the result that sanctions have not been applied effectively. War materials are still being supplied to Italy; liquid fire and poison gas are being used on the helpless Abyssinians! Red. Cross units and open towns and villages arc« bombed! If is in this atmosphere of carnage horror, and League; supincness that “peace” between Italy and Abyssinia is being discussed by the League powers. Italy wants a “peace” dictated by her military victories outside of the League. Tn these circumstances, the Soviet Union through its representative M. Litvinov comes forward as unalterably opposed to such Imperialist bargainings. Litvinov in oppositon to those powers who wanted conciliation at any cost demanded assistance for the Abyssinians and more effective sanctions against the aggressor, Italy. He exposed the cynical war spirit, behind the support for the Italian peace term’s by pointing out-that in principle it meant “The more open and flagrant the. aggression the more lenient the treatment and the greater the rewards for the aggressor.” INDIVISIBILITY OF PEACE. "The principle that peace is indivisible is happily receiving wider and wider recognition. Tho whole world knows now that nearly every war is generated by a previous war. and itself generates new wars.”

(Litvinov 5/9/35 And again. “The peoples of the Soviet Union fully realise that a war, begun in NorthEastern Africa, may easily upset relations over the world, and may stimulate. forces which are preparing war in other parts of the -world.” (Izvestia 6/9/35). Such is Soviet opinion. Has the failure to apply sanctions; has Italys challenge to the League ami collective security released the forces df aggression elsewhere'? Is peace “indivisible”? The answer is on the Rhine, in the Far East, on the Swiss frontier, in Austria on the Dardanelles! Mongolia—and Franco — Soviet Pact. THE RHINE.

The Treaty of Locarno between Britain, Italy, France and Belgium, freely entered into and signed by Germany provided for the demilitarisation of the Rhino. Security of France^ and Belgium was guaranteed by Britain and Italy. Already with. the active support of Britain, Germany had rearmed. Im violation of the Versailles Treaty the Anglo-German naval agreement had been signed. The forces of fusc;st aggression had obtained one mc* tory over existing treaties. The way was prepared. The course of league non-activity against Italy could not but be noted bv Hitler. The German press ar every stage of the weakening of League action, at every disagreement, between Britain and France, rejoiced and proclaimed the failure, of the League and collective action. The iemilt has been the march on the. Rhine. Further German military activity'has also keen reported on the Swiss frontier.

German aggression has been com

binod with a slanderous denunciation uf the Franco-Soviet Pact, and a proclamation of a crusade against Bolshevism (Ev. Post, March 21). The Gorman Government proposed a new air pact between the Western Powers, offered a non-aggression pact for 25 years to France. Belgium, Holland and specified Eastern neighbours; in fact, a non-aggression pact for anyone except the Soviet Union! (Ev. Post, April 14). What do such pacts mean? But permission to wage war against the Soviet Union with the support of AVestorn Powers! “Such a system of pacts can only increase the security of the aggressor and not the security of peace-loving nations.” (Litvinoff, 17/4/36).

The war aims of Hitler’s Germany against Russia have been openly proclaimed in Hitler’s book “Mein Kam'pf. ” A further point is given to Hitler’s proposal by the report that a great compulsory educational pageant has ben held in Germany. Ail school children and youth are placed in front of a map and learn “that Germany’s destiny- lies eastward into Russia.’’ (Ev. Post report taken from “Morning Post, England March 28th). LITVINOV SPEAKS OUT. On March 17th, at the public session of the League council, Litvinov declared the Soviet Union’s readiness to participate in collective measures against Germany’s breach of International obligatinos. Ho replied to the contention that the Franco-Soviet pact was a military alliance. It was but a defensive 1 pant against, aggression which Germany was free to join; “The whole world knows that neither the Soviet Union nor Franco have any claim to German territory, and are not striving to change the frontiers of Germany, If German}- undertakes no 'aggression against France, or the Soviet Union, the pact will not begin to operate.” “But if the Soviet Union becomes a victim of attack, by Germany, the Locarno Treaty gives France as any other member of the League, the unquestionable right to come to the assistance of the Soviet Union.’’ The ratification of the Franco-So-viet pact by the French Senate is a bulwark against Nazi aggression and a great factor for peace.