A DRAMATIC MOVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23894, 23 August 1939, Page 9

A DRAMATIC MOVE

GERMANY AND THE SOVIET PACT OF NON-AGGRESSION NEGOTIATIONS IN MOSCOW NAZIS' REVERSAL OF POLICY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright), LONDON, Aug. 21. (Received Aug. 22, at 10 p.m.) It has been officially announced in Berlin that Germany and Russia have agreed to conclude a non-aggression pact. The German Foreign Secretary (Herr von Ribbentrop) will go to Moscow on August 23 to complete the negotiations. The Times Berlin correspondent says well-informed Germans regard the development as removing all danger of war from Europe, arguing that Britain has suffered a grave diplomatic defeat and will hardly now care to carry out her obligations to Poland. Therefore the German demands against Poland will' be granted fully and Britain will be obliged to make the best of the new situation and accommodate herself to the new order in Europe. It is emphasised that Germany has no intention of attacking England or her possessions, and if Britain shows common sense an excellent understanding might be reached with the rulers of the Continent. In any case, it is asserted, Britain is now impotent to help Poland and must therefore make the best of a bad job, and this, in the German view, will prove a constructive step in the interests of world peace. ULTIMATUM TO POLAND POSSIBLE A message from Danzig says it is hinted that directly the Russo-German Pact is signed Germany will present Poland with a 24-hour ultimatum.

POLAND TRAPPED NEWS SHOCKS WARSAW DOUBLE BLOW TO BRITAIN ,END OF TALKS POSSIBLE LONDON, Aug. 22. (Received Aug. 22, at 11.30 p.m.) Amid the general surprise created by the announcement of the nonaggression pact between Russia and Germany it emerges from German semi-official circles that its speedy conclusion has already removed the long existing tension between Russia and Germany. The impending pact will doubtless help to clear the international political atmosphere to the extent of making the " encirclement" Powers more cautious in .their policy towards Germany. The preliminary negotiations between Berlin and Moscow ran concurrently with the British and French negotiations with Russia. German circles are most optimistic with regard to the European reaction to the pact. They regard the pact as a double blow to Britain's attempt to enlist Russia in the British and French encirclement policy. Eventualities Foreseen The Perlin correspondent of the Associated Press of America says well-informed circles are unable to say how the pact between Russia and Germany will affect the anticomintern pact, under which Germany, Italy and Japan are pledged to oppose international Bolshevism, but it is emphasised that all eventualities have been foreseen. German and Japanese relations have been taken into consideration. Basically Poland's position appeared to be * greatly weakened, for no matter what the Western democracies might now arrange, Poland could not expect help from the East. The Danzig correspondent ot the British. United Press says leading Nazis declared that the pact would undoubtedly hasten realisation of Danzig's demand to join the Reich. It would also greatly lessen the possibilities of war arising out of a solution of the Danzig problem. Italy Fully Informed The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of America says it is understood that Sign or Mussolini was fully informed of the negotiations for a pact between Russia and Germany, of which he approved as likely to secure not only Germany's Polish aims but also satisfaction of Italy's claims on France. The Daily Telegraph's Berlin correspondent says diplomatic observers describe Herr Hitler's turning to Communist Russia for friendship as one of the most dramatic acts in his career. It is interpreted as meaning that Herr Hitler will allow nothing, not even ideological differences, to stand in the way of the policy he considers necessary to pursue to increase greater Germany's power and strength. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says the news spread like wildfire throughout the city, creating the greatest satisfaction everywhere. One comment was as follows: —" Poland is now trapped, and the entire Polish question will Drove another German walkover similar to Czechoslovakia."

Effect on Poland Foreign diplomats are stunned. They expressed the opinion that the met will vastly strengthen Herr Hitler's hand, enabling him to press his anti-Polish campaign with renewed vigour. It is even suggested that Poland might now be willing to negotiate on what she has hitherto steadfastly refused to discuss. The Warsaw correspondent of the British United Press says the news shocked Warsaw. The first reaction was to wait and see what Britain and France propose doing. Some express the opinion that it will mean the end of the British, French and Kussian talks, while others point out that non-aggression pacts do not affect alliances and recall that the alliance between Poland and France remained in force despite the nonaggression pact between Poland and Germany, which Herr Hitler subsequently denounced.

The Daily Herald, in a leader, says the announcement represents one of the most astounding and most shocking reversals of policy in history. The Tass agency says that after the conclusion of the trade agreement between Russia and Germany the problem of improving political relations arose* An exchange of views on this question established that both Governments desired to relieve the mutual political tension, eliminate the war menace, and conclude a non-aggression pact.