“DIRTY MARKED CARDS"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 July 1943, Page 3

“DIRTY MARKED CARDS"

HITLER PLAYS HIS GREASIEST EXPOSING A BOGEY WHAT STALIN SAID The German-Fascists are trying to twist the Red Army’s victories into a terrible bogey for intimidation of Europe and America. They are trying to ascribe to the Soviet Union their own defeated plan to dominate Europe (writes D. Laslavsky in “Soviet War News”). This is not the first time the Germans have tried this trick. It failed dismally before, and it will even more certainly fail to-day. Like the tricksters they are, Hitler’s propagandists are cynically fishing out their greasy marked cards from under the table. They know perfectly well that no sensible, honest person is likely to swallow the bait offered by swindlers who have been exposed and beaten time and again. But they are out to catch the simple-minded, or persons who do not mind being deceived. Recently the Washington “Star” published an article by a very broad-mind-ed and generous journalist, who with one large gesture presented the U.S.S.R. with practically the whole of Europe on a plate. He suggested that Bulgaria might desire the privilige of joining the U.S.S.R. if, after the Hilterites’ defeat, the Russians were able to establish a common frontier with her through the incorporation of the Dobruja. He envisaged the peoples of Yugoslavia requesting alliance with the great Slav power, Russia, and thereby giving Russia an outlet to the Mediterranean. Then he made up a present of Czechia—no one can say he is stingy. Then in his irresistible generosity he hinted that Moscow might insist on an extension of its sphere of influence across Iran to the Persian Gulf. It is tedious to enumerate all the silly nonsense uttered by the loquacious American journalist. We only see that Ihere is a big game afoot. The German cheats have passed off the marked card, and the Washington “Star” correspondent has accepted it. The Hitler press hastened to acclaim his “plan.” At a Berlin press conference the notorious Doctor Schmidt produced some very earnest “comments.” What a crude business it is. And what abysmal ignorance is displayed. Mr Journalist presumes to present us with Bessarabia, part of the U.S.S.R.’s own territory. Why does he not go further, and in the generosity of his heart present California or Alaska to the United States? There still appear to exist strange people who are ready to present to the Soviet Union parts of its own territory, such as the Baltic Republics. These people pretend not to know that the Constitution of the U.S.S.R., the basic law of our country, has consolidated the ties between these Republics and all the other Republics of the Soviet Union, and that the Red Army is fighting heroically for the honour, independence and integrity of our State. One cannot expect much of such journalists. But it hardly befits the Washington “Star” to accept Berlin’s bait. But Faspist lies have very short legs. Anyone who tries to march with Berlin's propaganda will soon fall out of step with it The whole world has heard and remembers Stalin’s simple, concise words: “We have not, and we cannot have, such war aims as the seizure of foreign territory, the subjugation of foreign peoples, whether it be the peoples and territories of Europe or the peoples and territories of Asia, including Iran. Our first aim is to liberate our territories and our peoples from the GermanFascist yoke. “We have not, and cannot have, such war aims as the forcing of our will and our regime on the Slavonic or any other enslaved European peoples who are expecting our assistance. Our aim is to help these peoples in their struggle for liberation from Hitlerite tyranny, and then to leave it to them quite freely to settle their own destiny in their lands. No interference of any kind in the internal affairs of others!” These words resounded through the world like the peal of a bell made of pure, noble metal. Compared to this truth, how wretched sound the petty pretences of stupid Hitlerite politicians. Let them lie. There is really nothing else for unsuccessful cardsharpers to do.

But if anyone, through thoughtlessness or lack of wisdom, accepts their dirty marked cards and plays into their hands, he has only himself to blame if he finds himself in their doomed company.