SOVIET INTRIGUES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12423, 17 April 1926, Page 4

SOVIET INTRIGUES

AIMED AGAINST THE LEAGUE GERMAN TREATY PART OF SCHEME TO LINK EASTERN STATES By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 15. While British official circles are not surprised that Germany and Russia are negotiating a treaty, it would be foolish to deny that there are misgivings. The ’’Daily Telegraph” expresses the opinion’ that Moscow has fouhd a means of influencing Germany through the injustioe from which Germany suffered at Geneva. The “Telegraph” also stressed the fact that this is only one feature of the Soviet’s intrigues against the League of Nations, which involve the offer of pacts to Poland and the Baltic States, besides Germany. The “Morning post” says that Russia hails the German Treaty as a bridge built over Poland for fiin security of loans for manufactured goods, while Germany does not disguise that her motive is to secure new markets for her manufacturers and new sources for the supply of raw materials. BLOW TO DISARMAMENT PLAN These are not the only complications at present developing in Europe. It is understood that Poland and the border States, under the influence of the Soviet’s definite refusal to attend the preparatory disarmament conference, or any conference held in Switzerland, are seeking a postponement of the conference, arguing that they could hardly be expected to reduce their armies without assurances that _ their more powerful neighbour Soviet Russia would similarly agree. Whether tliis attitude is spontaneous or inspired by the Soviet as a part of an ambitious scheme to create a new orientation eastwards is not yet clear.

BALKANS MIJCH WOOED

The movements of certain statesmen continue to cause speculation, the Polish Premier, M. Sltrynski, arrived at Prague on Tuesday, and is due at Vienna to-day. It is known that the Prague conversations related to the Attitude to he adopted at the disarmament conference and the reorganisation of tho League of Nations. The “Morning Post” correspondent in Warsaw predicts that Poland’s relations with the Little Entente will become more • intimate/ Poland nr,d Czecho-Slovakia are natural allies.' M. Boncour (France) is at present in Berlin after visits to Warsaw and Danzig, it is believed in connection with the attempt to form a Balkan psfet under the friendly aegis of Italy* and France. Indeed, the Balkans have been much wooed lately in all quarters for various motives. / • Finally, Signor Mussolini’s imperialistic tour causes diplomatic nightmares. The “Vorwaerts” interprets it as a threat against Turkey, the plan being for Italy to attack Smyrna, while Greece simultaneously invades Thrafte.