MOSCOW MISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1935, Page 5

MOSCOW MISSION

MR A. EDEN’S VISIT

RUSSIA’S FEARS OF GERMANY.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

Moscow, March 2

The Royal toast- was unprecedently proposed by a Soviet Minister at Moscow, w hen M. Litvin off, at a reception to Mr Eden, toa.sted King George and British happiness and prosperity. He emphasised that the visit was an important milestone in Anglo-Russian relations, which economically and culturally had been developing' for the last' fourteen years. The political side was now showing a distinct improvement. The Soviet was also significant, owing to alarming impediments arising in the preservation of international peace,’ 'although a consoling feature is that it is impossible to point to groups of Powers awaiting a propitious moment to attack each other, while the overwhelming majority favour peace. Nevertheless, the fact that the danger spot s may be located does Tiot imply that they are localised, he added. Referring to Russia’s acceptance of the F'rahco-British proposals of February 3, he said that lie believed Mr Eden’s visit will fruitfully contribute to such co-operation. The coming weeks would show whether European statesmen were capable of carrying out the pro-

posals. Mr Eden, replying, stressed the importance of Russia’s entrance to the League, a,nd added: “My firm belief which has not been weakened by the visits I have recently paid is that a frank personal exchange of views can alone improve tlie anxious European position,”

Mr Eden had conversations,. lasting over two hours, with M. Litvinoff. The matters discussed related to the subjects mentioned in the Anglo-French communique of February 3, and to the visits wlijch Mr Eden paid ,with Sir J. Simon to Berlin. The conversation is stated to have been conducted in a very friendly and cordial- atmosphere. It will he resumed to-morrow morning, an ( j in the afternoop, Mr Eden, will meet M. Stalin. It is understood that this will be the first occasion on which M. Stalin will have a discussion on international relations with -a representative of a Foreign .Government, such matters, hitherto, having been exclusively in the hands of M. Litvinoff. M. Litvinoff ga.ve Mr.A. Eden an account, of the Russo-German relations during the past two or three years. He demonstrated how the relations had become progressively worse. He cited a German refusal in March of 1934 to conclude a Baltic- Pact. He added.: “My own conviction is that Germany iCpntemplates Eastern aggression:”.

“Tile Soviet believes that the issue of peace or war untimately depends on Britain and Russia. - The Soviet' is most anxious for peace, but Germany s intentions as revealed by Herr Meinkampf and Dr Rosenberg’s utterances, are alarming the Soviet. Russia’s 1 feare can only, be removed by the Germans participating in a pact for automatic mutual assistance against an aggressor. The German arguments against such an arrangement are regarded. as insincere. This is equally •applicable to Locarno. M. Litvinoff now intends raising the possibility of concluding an Eastern security pact including Britain, Russia and America, _ which Japan would he invited to join. Such ", pact says the correspondent with or 'without Japanese co-opera-tion, would be an immense triumph for Russian diplomacy. “Mr Eden frankly explained his own opinion of the Berlin conversations. M. Litvinoff, similarly, frankly explained in detail, the (progressive deterioration of Russo-German relationships during the past two jeais. He.expressed his opinion that the German Conscription Law has created an ).. entirely new situation. He also eraiphasised the importance which the Soviet attached to the League of Nations system. “The Soviet’s view is that if the paramount aim of British policy is really peace then Britain must support a Russian claim to security gainst peace-breakers. Peace cannot . be secured in Western Europe and be f left to look after itself in Eastern f Europe. “A firm British attitude in the year 1914,” says the Soviet paper. “Izvestia,” “would have prevented War.” The paper adds: “The position 7' to-day is analogous to that of 1914. j The danger is equally great, and its possibility is almost as imminent.”

SIR J. SIMON’S BERLIN VISIT. Responding in the Commons to a request from Mr Lansbury, for a statement on the Berlin visit, Sir J. Simon said: — “The House is aware that my visit to Berlin is one of a series of visits of exploration and enquiry, now being paid on behalf of his Majesty’s Government to variou s foreign capitals, \ .and that when these visits are con- . eluded, they will be followed by a meeting at Stresa, North Italy, where I hope to meet Signor Mussolini and M. Laval. In these circumstances it is obviously undesirable to make a full statement as to the position still under investigation. Unathorised specu. lations such as have appeared in some quarters should be disregarded. I may

say, however, that in the course of two days’ conversations with Chancellor Hitler, the European problem in relation to Germany was reviewed, and all topics mentioned in the London communique of February 3, brought under discussion. Considerable divergence of opinion between the two Governments was revealed by the conversations. but the result of the meeting was undoubtedly valuable in that both sides wore able clearly to understand their respective points of view, a process indispensable to any further progress.” Asked if any of the conversations bar! taken place or would take place within the next ten or twelve days, would alter the position of the Stresa conference, or bad the conference been arranged between the three Powers, Sir John replied tint the Stresa meeting was for three Powers, and In did not think it possible for him, or anybody to s neenlnte as to what would he the possible events after that.