GERMANY-SOVIET

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1939, Page 5

GERMANY-SOVIET

PACT CONFIRMED

AN UPHEAVAL CAUSED.

‘.United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright),

MOSCOW. August 22

An official f 'announcement has confirmed . the i intention of Russia and Germany to conclude a non-aggression pact. . r

RIBBENTROP GOES TO MOSCOW

BERLIN, August 22.

Herr von Ribbentrop (Foreign Minister), accompanied' by Doctor Gaus and Interpreter Schmidt, stays overnight at Koenigsberg, and he arrives at Moscow to-morrow (Wednesday). It is expected that Russia, and Germany eacli will maintain its own political philosophy, but it has been agreed to adjust their political relations.

END OF COMMUNIST PARTY?

’ SOFIA, August 22,

Reports of a possible Russo-German rapprochement have been- circulating in Sofia for days. M. Raskilnikov, the former Soviet Minister at Sofia, in a letter to’ the Bulgarian newspaper, “Utro,” declarr ed: “Stalin has destroyed the Communist Party. He has established a personal autocracy. He has continued to undermine the authority of the military leaders in spite of the threatening international situation.

SOVIET DIPLOMATS’ STATEMENT

LONDON, August 22,

Soviet Embassy circles here expressed the opinion that there was' no reason for Britain and France to abandon their negotiations in Moscow. They declared that the clue to the Russo-German Pact decision was to be found in the fact that the Kremlin has known weary months of haggling with the British and the French. SOVIET VERSION. MOSCOW, August 22. The Tass '(Russian) News Agency, pays: • After the conclusion of the trade agreement between Russia and Germany, the problem of improving their political relations arose. They had an exchange of views on this question. This established that both Governments desired to relieve their mutual political tension, to eliminate war menace, and to conclude a nonaggression pact.”

SOVIET AIMS IN DOUBT.

WASHINGTON, August 21

There is some scepticism as to whether the Soviet-German Non-Ag-gression Pact will actually be completed, it being felt that the Soviet may be endeavouring to force England and France to meet her demands for an outright military alliance with them. On the other hand, it is felt, in some quarters, that the agreement may be a passive and not an.aggressive one, and it is pointed out that it is merely a reiteration, because a non-aggression pact signed in 1920 had not been denounced.

GERMAN USE FOR PACT,

DANZIG, August 22,

It is now hinted here that, directly the Russo-German pact is signed, Germany will present Poland with a 24hour ultimatum. 1

HITLER’S OBJECT

LONDON, August 22

The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Berlin correspondent says: “Diplomatic observers here describe Herr Hitler’s turning to Communist Russia for friendship as being one of the most dramatic acts in his career. It is interpreted. as meaning that Herr Hitler will allow nothing, not even ideological differences, to stand in the way of the policy which he considers it to be necessary to pursue so as to increase Greater Germany’s power and strength.’’

ENCIRCLERS BESTED

BERLIN, August 22

The German official spokesman declared : Our pact with the Soviet is not extraordinary. It is only natural that Germany should strive to break through her encirclers. The difference between our action and Britain’s is that we are not concluding a pact with Moscow which is aimed against Britain, whereas England tried to conclude at Moscow one aimed against Germany. It is emphasised that the pact does not affect Gerrnan domestic policy. It is pointed out that Turkey is on excellent terms with Moscow, but Turkey will not tolerate a single Communist home. ' GERMANS MYSTIFIED. LONDON, August 22. The British United Press Berlin correspondent says: The public hero has been non-plussed at the news of the Soviet pact, which was published without any explanation with eightinch headlines. It is still generally believed that Herr Hitler will get what he wants without war, but there is no doubt thai the German nation would fight to the last man if necessary,