SOVIET WARNING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 64, 13 February 1936, Page 7

SOVIET WARNING

“A POWERFUL ARMY.” : TO MEET ATTACK. COMMENT ON GERMANY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received February 13, 10.50 a.m. MOSCOW, Feb. 12. “We must warn all craving for Soviet blood and colonies that we have a powerful army ready to break the nock of anyone daring to attack,” writes M. Liubchenke, chairman of the Ukrainian Council of People’s Commissars, in tho isvestia. Describing German f ascists as representatives of mediaeval barbarism, he said it was obvious that they and tho Japanese militarists were in contact with Polish landowners with a view to war. PACT AYITH SOVIET. FRENCH CONSIDERATION. PARIS, Feb. 11. A crowded and guarded Chamber of Deputies ba.s begun the debate on the ratification of the Franco-Soviet pact for mutual assistance which has roused the ire of Germany. The lobbies are excited, but there is little doubt of endorsement, probably on Thursday. In the meantime a number of hostile speeches are inevitable. GERMAN BITTERNESS. TRIPLE ENTENTE FEARED. BERLIN, Feb. 12. The German Press continues to belabour the Franco-Soviet Pact, which is described as nothing less than a military agreement directed firstly against Germany. Bitter feeling is also being expressed against Britain owing to the fear of the pre-war Triple Entente being revived. The Berliner Tageblatt declares: “Germany will regard ratification _ of tho Franco-Soviet Pact as a serious and decisive turning-point in the history of Europe. It will increase tremendously tile difficulties of uniting Europe and also make tree conversation between Germany, France and Britain more difficult.” Presumably the German Government will not lot ratification pass without comment, but the Berlin correspondent of the Times emphasises that there is no valid excuse for drastic action on the ground that tho Locarno Treaty has been violated, and none is likely to he taken. On the other hand, it Is claimed that the pact is against the spirit of Locarno, which Gennanv doubtless thought secured her for good against the possibility of a two-tronted war. Possibly, therefore, Germany will intimate that the ratification creates a situation requiring consideration. She might like to do more, but the fact that Britain stands behind tlio pact is something that was not reckoned with a week or two ngo, .and there are no illusions about the uselessness of looking to Italy. Even toe Nazi paper Angriff, which never concealed its pro-Italian sympathies, unflatteringly refers to Italy’s present position, declaring that Signor Alussolini must choose between calling oft the Abyssinian war or going down in financial disaster within a year.