“PEACE TALK”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 30 April 1942, Page 6

“PEACE TALK”

RUSSIA AND GERMANY AN OLD BERLIN TRICK STERN REALITIES BEHIND IT London, March 4. While army and industry are preparing for the spring offensive, German propagandists are producing an old and very rusty trick, says the diplomatic correspondent of the “Time:-." In many cities of Europe they aie whispering - "strictly between you .and me”—that Germany and Russia might suddenly come to terms. From Stockholm comes the whisper that Selnilenburg, the former German Ambassador in Moscow, has been asked bv Hitler to ponder over the chances. Various fanciful versions of the supposed terms are being put about; and neutrals are left wondering what the Germans can have in mind. It is tempting to think that Miller despairs of a successful offensive in the spring. Or some may detect a German hope of casting suspicion between Britain and Russia. But. on the whole, the truth is probably that the Germans have no very deep plot in mind and will be content only if they cause a little mystification. OBJECT OF “WHISPERING” A year ago they were just as stealthily whispering that Great Britain was languishing and was prepared to patch up a shameful agreement and call it peace. Then, as now. they had no grand objective in view. If their whispers caused a slackening of the war effort among even a few people, or if military action or ' agreement were postponed by even a lew hours, the Germans would count their tactics as successful. Behind this thin smokescreen are the realities on both sides, Russian and German. Each country is moving up great reserves of trained men—Germany, indeed, has already thrown in many reserves which the High Command wished to preserve for an offensive in the spring. Each country is engaged in its greatest drive for armaments. Russian leaders are paying special attention to the production of field mortars and anti-tank rifles, but every type of weapon is coming from the factories of Moscow (saved from the invader at the eleventh hour) and from the newer factories of the Urals, Siberia and Central Asia. RUSSIA'S CONFIDE NC E Competitions between factories —now to be organised by Mr Nelson in America—have long been the practice in Russia. In war-time the precise results cannot be announced, but the Stalin automobile plant in Moscow has been commended for producing vehicles for three divisions of troops over and above its scheduled output during January, and vehicles for two extra divisions during February. Generally, the Germans are expected to launch their heaviest attack along the Black Sea coast in an attempt to reach the oilfields of the Caucasus. Moscow seems to be confident of the Russian ability to hold the drive, provided that British and American supplies of tanks and aeroplanes are maintained. Mr Roosevelt has promised to bring American supplies up to the monthly quota which Mr Harriman offered to Mr Stalin. Certainly the Russians hope that, by one means or another, the joint supply from the Allies may be increased before the weather lifts in the spring. The Scharnhorst and Gneisenau they believe may be repaired in time to join the Tirpitz in raids on convoys along the northern sea roiffe to Russia when the nights shorten.