Russia as Hired Man

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 5

Russia as Hired Man

Soviet Doubts the Entente’s Motives

WILL ENTER PACT ONLY ON EQUAL FOOTING

United Tress Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, June 29. The Soviet’s Press chief, M. ZlidanofT, in an article in the .Moscow newspaper Pravda in anticipation of a renewed approach jy the British anti French Ambassadors, Sir William Seeds and J. Naggiar, to the Soviet Foreign .Minister, M. Molotov, declares: Everything indicates that Britain nd France do not want an agreement based cn equality and •eciproclty; they want an agreement :ndcr which Russia would play the clc of a hired man carrying on his houlders the entire burden of the Migagement. No self-respecting country will accept such an agreement if it does not want to be a .-/laything in the hands of people who want somebody to pull their hot coals from the fire. “It seems,” adds M. Zhdanoff, “that Britain and France only want conversa;ions about an agreement in order to

exploit Russia’s imaginary stubbornness in their own countries, thus helping them to strike a bargain with the aggressors. “Despite the extreme clarity of Russia’s position, there has not been any appreciable progress in the negotiations, which have entered a blind alley. This cannot fail to have serious significance in the present international situation and to stimulate the aggressors to further activity.” The Soviet Government has ordered the publication of M. Zhdanoff’s article in every provincial paper throughout the Soviet. The Paris correspondent of The Times says it is understood that Britain and France are willing to give Russia reciprocal guarantees of automatic assistance against direct aggression or aggression against States whose integrity is vital to the three signatories. They are alsq willing to refer particularly to the Baltic States in an annex to tho pact. GERMAN CHIEF-OF-STAFF IN FINLAND HELSINGFORS, June 29. General Haider, chief of tho German General Staff, has arrived with a party of officers on a visit to Finland.