SOVIET VIEWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 209, 2 August 1940, Page 8

SOVIET VIEWS

FRANCE’S FALL ANALYSED. RELATIONS AVITH NAZIS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Recoived August 2, 12.45 p.m. MOSCOW, Aug. 1. The Commissar lor Foreign Affairs (M.. Molotov), in his address to the Supreme Council, reviewed the German military operations culminating in the overthrow of France, and aduud that although France had obtained an armistice, she had not yet obtained peace. Bad military preparedness was clearly not the only cause of France’s exceptional weakness. Considerably important, also, was the tact that leading circles in France, unlike Germany, had treated too lightly the role and weight of the Soviet in European affairs. Recent events had demonstrated even more than that. They had shown that the ruling circles in France were not connected with the people and" were far from relying on their support. These leaders feared their people, who were deservedly famed as lovers of liberty. France was now confronted with the difficult task of healing her wounds—a task which could not be realised by the old methods. The British Government, said MMolotov, had interpreted Hitler’s peace appeal on July 19 as a demand for Britain's capitulation and had replied that it was continuing the war until victory was achieved. “Russian and German relations remain wholly as laid down in the Russian-German agreement,” said M. Molotov. “The Soviet has strictly observed the agreement, which removed the possibility of Russian German friction when the Soviet measures were carried out along our western frontiers, and simultaneously assured Germany of security in Eastern Europe. Far from reducing the strength of the Russian-German Non-Aggression Pact, European developments have emphasised the importance of its existence and further development. FUNDAMENTAL INTERESTS. “The foreign Press, particularly the British and Anglophile Press, has lately frequently speculated on the possibility of Russian and German disagreements, attempting to intimidate us by the prospect of Germany’s might. We ourselves and Germany had exposed these attempts and swept them aside as worthless. AVe reiterate the opinion that Russian and Germany’s goodneighbourly, friendly relations are not based on fortuitous and transient considerations, blit on the fundamental interests of both countries,” added M. Molotov. . “It is noteworthy that Russian and Italian relations have lately improved. The exchange of vilws revealed every possibility of Russia and Italy ensuring a mutual understanding in foreign policy, also extending their trade relations. “The transfer of the Soviet frontiers to the Baltic coast is a fact of primary importance to our country. A\ 7 e henceforth possess ice-free ports on the Baltic, of which we have great need. See “Soviet Neutrality.”—Page 7. POLES NOT MISLED. SOVIET-NAZI RELATIONS.

(British Official Wireless.) Received August 2, 1.45 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 1. Speaking before the Foreign Relations Committee of the Polish Parliament, now in session in London, Count Zaleski (Polish Foreign Minister), said Hitler’s conquest had not brought him any nearer his much-cov-eted peace","" although mow practically the entire European Continent was under Nazi domination. A fact that coufd not be overlooked was that Europe would be in need of large imports of food and raw materials from other parts of the world, which would become practically impossible so long as Britain ruled the waves. Count Zaleski gave a warning against the suggestion of an early rift between the Nazi and Soviet dictators, who would come to an agreement at the expense of their neighbours when it suited them. He concluded : “The military defeat of France did cause large losses for the Polish Army, yet the Polish Army won important fame on the battlefield of Narvik, and in France, and now the part that has come over to Britain will continue to fight for the common cause until final victory is achieved.”