SMALLER STATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 12

SMALLER STATES

QUESTION OF AGGRESSION SOVIET DEFINITION TERMS TOO FAR-REACHING LONDON, July 6. “Difficulties with Russia began when the negotiators began to list the States to be defended against aggression," says the diplomatic correspondent of The Times. “The Soviet agreed to the inclusion of Belgium. Rumania, Poland, Greece and Turkey, provided that Finland, Estonia and Latvia were included. , , “We said that in that case we must consider our special interests in the maintenance of Swiss and Netherlands independence. “ The Soviet replied that if Western Europe were brought more, clearly into the picture, they must consider means of ensuring immediate help to the West, and suggested opening negotiations with Poland and Turkey. , , . , ' * “The Soviet also defined direct and indirect aggression in terms so far-reaching that, in the British view, they amounted to potential interference in the internal policies of other States. Three-Power Agreement “The points outstanding are not disclosed, but it is known that agreement has been reached on the fundamentals of a three-Power defensive pact, on the principle of military cooperation if certain States are _ victims of aggression, on the provision against a separate armistice or peace, on the need for immediate military conversations, and on the way in which reference should be made to League principles.” Editorially, The Times says. The Baltic States, especially Finland, have a nightmare of Russians advancing with rifles in one hand and leaflets in the other, and staying indefinitely in order to scatter Communist propaganda. “The Baltic States must realise that if a German-Russian war breaks out, they will inevitably be drawn in.” Not Entirely Satisfactory The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says an immediate three-Power mutual assistance pact would be less satisfactory as a deterrent against aggression than the type of general treaty hitherto proposed, because Russia would be able to remain neutral in the event of a German attack on her neighbours. Furthermore, Poland and Rumania would be unable to obtain Russian aid, while Britain and France would be geographically ill-placed to assist them. . . , ~ Swiss public opinion, reports me Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, has been stirred by publication of the fact that guarantees for Belgium and Switzerland were discussed in Moscow. Opinion overwhelmingly opposes any diplomatic reconciliation with Russia.