BLUNT WORDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 5

BLUNT WORDS

NON-AGGRESSION PACT RUSSIA IN ROLE OF HIRED MAN ARTICLE BY SOVIET’S PRESS CHIEF ! r A Hv Idledi ic* JHcuraph- Copyright* - - (Received 30th Juno. 9.0 a.m.) MOSCOW. 29th June. The Soviet’s Press Chief. M. Zhdanoff. i 1 in an article in “Pravda” in anticipation , I of a renewed approach by Sir William j Seeds (British Ambassador), and M. Nagginr (French Ambassador), to M. Molotov (Foreign Minister) declares: “Everything indicates that Britain and France do not want an agreement based i on equality and reciprocity. They want an agreement under which Russia • will play the role of a hired man carryj ing on his shoulders the entire burden of the engagement. No self-respecting ! country will accept, such an agreement i if it does not want to be a plaything in j the hands of people wanting somebody I to pull their hot coals from the fire. It i seems that Britain and France only want conversations about an agreement it. order to exploit Russia’s imaginary stubbornness in their own countries, thus helping them to strike a bargain with aggressors. Despite the extreme clarity of Russia's position, there has not been appreciable progress in the negotiations, which have entered a blind alley. This canont fail to have serious significance in the present international situation, and stimulate aggressors’ further activity.”

SOVIET OFFICIAL IN TOKIO RECALLED TOKIO. 28th June. M. Smetanin, the Soviet Charge : d'Affaires, has been recalled to MosPPUBLICATION ORDERED (Received 30th June, 1.10 p.m.) j MOSCOW, 29th June. The Government has ordered the i 1 publication of M. Zhdanoff’s article ini l every provincial paper throughout the ■ Soviet.