STILL DEEPER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23993, 17 June 1941, Page 7

STILL DEEPER

RUSSIAN MYSTERY SWEEPING DEMANDS GERMAN ARMY MOVES MEASURES IN NORWAY (Rocd. 8.35 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 he so sweeping as to amount to military concessions, including huge supplies of oil and wheat under direct German supervision of production and transport. According to the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent, Sir Stafford Cripps will return to Moscow, but the date of his departure has not been fixed. The Daily Mail says Sir Stafford Cripps will not return to Moscow unless Mr. Churchill urgently requests him to do so. Sir Stafford, it is understood feels his mission to .Moscow was not a success, and has emphasised to the Government his desire to resume his seat in the Mouse of Commons. Red Army's Attitude Meanwhile, according to the Helsinki correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, the leaders of the Red Army are

strongly opposing Stniin's policy of appeasing Hitler. The Defence Commissar, Marshal Timoshrnko, in particular, is urging resistance to the Nazi de,ma nils. The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says the British Government does not believe Hitler is definitely planning to attack Russia. His concentrations in the east, while apparently meant, as pressure upon Moscow* in the hope of securing political or economic gains by agreement, mav also he intended as a screen for sudden military operations elsewhere. Mines on Norwegian Coast Press despatches from Norway reveal extensive German military measures, including mine-laying 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 use as air bases. German transports in the Gulf of Bothnia are also reported to be 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 the north of France,in the past month. Finns' Precautions The Helsinki correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper Dageir Nyhcter says the Finnish authorities are encouraging the evacuation of women and children as a precautionary measure. There is s;reat excitement in Hungary and Rumania about the prospects of a conflict between Germany and Russia, hut Turkish political circles are sceptical, believing that the possibility of a breach is very remote, says the Times' Ankara correspondent. Germany considers that Russia's political and economic co-operation in the new European order is essential, the correspondent says, and is therelore exerting the strongest pressure to obtain Russia's acquiescence. Stalin, it i.s said, is anxious to maintain peace and will yield certain economic concessions, The Swiss radio stated that extensive Soviet Army manoeuvres, including parachute and tank exercises, are being conducted at Moscow, Kiev and the Ural Mountains areas. GERMAN ATTITUDE MOSCOW DENIAL OF TENSION LONDON, June 16 There has been 110 development in the situation in Eastern Europe since the Moscow radio denied reports of tension between Russia and Germany. German newspapers have neither published the Tass agency's denial nor commented upon it. The official attitude is that there is 110 cause to deny rumours put about outside the country. Reports continue to reach London that Germany intends shortly to present the new order in Europe as an accomplished fact.