SOVIET RUSSIA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 256, 27 September 1945, Page 4

SOVIET RUSSIA.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —“C.T.” descends to that deceptive suggestion by which the Communist. bereft of facts, seeks to discredit his opponents. My letter of September 4, 1945, stated: “As to what occurred when Britain sought an alliance with Russia in 1939 no authoritative account has yet been published.” “C.T.” says surely 1 must know this to be untrue, and’ continues, “I have seven books on my shelves dealing with this pact of non-aggression”. The suggestion thereby conveyed is that my statement is untrue because at least seven authoritative accounts have been published. Communism thrives on the blind acceptance of suggestion and implication, but if these are disregarded and the facts examined it will be seen that “C.T.’s” assertions boil down to this, that he has seven books. Books, moreover, which deal with “tins pact of non-aggression”, that is, with the Russo-German pact. 'lhe subject of my statement was the Anglo-Russian talks, an entirely separate matter. Thus the existence of these books does not refute my statement at all, even if my qualifying term “authoritative” is overlooked; and it will be noted that “C.T.” does not see fit to name these weighty works or their authors or publishers. An authoritative account is a factual record by an acknowledged impartial authority, and should include the actual text of the proposals and counter-proposals. If “C.T.’s” valuable volumes are the usual fantastic drivel churned out by Communist hack-writers they just won’t qualify, and “C.T.” probably suspects as much. If I were wrong' and an authoritative ac-‘ count had been published, “C.T.” would not have been obliged to resort to flagrant speciousness shakily supported by a selection of evasive generalities emanating from the ingenuous M. Molotov, whose engaging candour over the arrest of the Polish envoys further testified to the integrity of Soviet diplomacy.

Sir.-even if this discussion were not closed, there would be little need for me t'> continue. Every day the cables bring further melanehoy proof of what T hav<* contended over the past year. Russia, armed, greedy, and imnlacable, has stumped out liberty in the nine countries she controls. The defeat of Fascism, Nazism and Japanimalism is of no av.-til while then evil motivating force lives on in Soviet Imperialism, purveyed to the world as Communism. Collective security and the abolition of war are pipe-dreams so long as armed force can prevail over decency and justice, as it prevails in every land “liberated” by the Russians. No free nu lion dure disarm so long as the Soviet adheres to its belief clearly demonstrated at San Francisco and again this week iu London, that might is right.-—I am, etc., IMPRIMATUR.