BORDER STATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 January 1944, Page 5

BORDER STATES

INTENTIONS OF RUSSIA VIEWS OF WENDELL WILLKIE New York, Jan. 6. “One of the most pressing and immediate questions is Russia’s intentions towards border states,” said Mr Wendell Willkie in an article in the “New York Times.” “Our principal objective must now be to persuade Russia to accept and give guarantees for a general organisation in which we are both members rather than seek her protection by political and military control of adjoining territories.” DOUBLE-DEALING ALLEGED An article in “Pravcla” accused Mr Willkie of double-dealing in American politics and attempting to create distrust in Russia among American voters and added tha* the question of the Baltic States is an internal Russian one in which Mr Willkie should not interfere. Russia knows how to deal with Poland, Finland and the Baltic States without Mr Willkie’s help. “Pravda’s” attack on Mr Willkie is interpreter 1 in Washington as an emphatic warning to Britain and America to keep their hands off Poland and other European countries whose borders the Red Army are now approaching says the “New York Times” correspondent. It is also seen as an indirect but significant notice that Russia intends to have the final say in matters affecting those countries. Diplomats point out that if the intention is carried out it would mean Soviet control of the balance of power in Europe. It is informally predicted that if the old European system of buffer states is to be revived —a system which might be restored if Russia becomes dominant in parts of Finland, the Baltic States, Czechoslovakia and Poland — the United States might react violently away from European politics after the war. It is no secret that Washington did not like the Russo-Czech Pact which is regarded as out of sympathy with the overall system of international security supported by Britain and America. Russia and China and envisaged by the conferences at Moscow, Cairo and Teheran.