Will Stalin Concede German Demands?

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 142, 17 June 1941, Page 5

Will Stalin Concede German Demands?

Rumoured Requests for Huge Supplies

Of Oil and Wheat

Hitler May be Masking Plan to Attack Britain

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 9.15 p.m. LONDON, June 16.

Anglo-Russian relations and Sir Stafford Cripps’ return to Moscow may have to be reconsidered if Stalin concedes Germany’s economic demands, says the Daily Express. These demands are reported to be so sweeping as to amount to military concessions, including huge supplies of oil and wheat under direct German supervision of production and transport. Meanwhile, according to the Daily Telegraph’s Helsinki correspondent, the Red Army is strongly opposing Stalin’s policy of appeasing Hitler. Defence Commissar Temoshenko is particularly urging resistance to the Nazi demands.

The Times’ diplomatic correspondent says the British Government does not believe Hitler is definitely planning to attack Russia. His concentrations in the east, while apparently meant to put pressure on Moscow in the hope of securing political and economic gains by agreement, may also be intended as a screen for sudden military operations elsewhere.

Press despatches from Norway reveal extensive German military measures, including minelaying along the Norwegian coast. Numerous Norwegian ships have been confiscated and the control of land traffic has also been strengthened while farms have been seized in southern and south-western Norway for air bases. German transports in the Gulf of Bothnia are also reported to bo unloading troops and supplies for transit to Norway.

Finally there is one report in London that German invasion troops have been moved secretly across Belgium to North France in the past month.

The Daily Mail says Sir Stafford Cripps will not return to Moscow unless Mr. Churchill urgently requests him to do so. Sir Stafford Cripps, it is understood, feels that his mission to Moscow has not been a success and he has emphasised to the Government his desire to resume his seat in the Commons.

There is great excitement in Hungary and Rumania about the prospects of a German-Russian conflict, but Turkish political circles are sceptical, believing that the possibility of a conflict is very remote, says the Ankara correspondent of the Times.

Germany, he adds, considers Russia’s political and economic co-operation in the new European order essential; therefore she is exerting the strongest pressure to obtain Russia’s acquiescence. Stalin, it is said, is anxious to maintain the peace and will yield certain economic concessions.

The Swiss radio stated to-day that extensive Soviet Army manoeuvres, including parachute and tank exercises, were being conducted in the Moscow, Kiev and Ural Mountains areas.

The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says Sir Stafford Cripps is returning to Moscow on a date not yet fixed. The authorities at Helsinki (Finland) are encouraging the evacuation of women and children as a precautionary measure.