AN ECHO FROM 1922

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23940, 16 October 1939, Page 12

AN ECHO FROM 1922

In 1922 Russia and Germany healed war wounds by signing the Treaty of Rapallo. A letter on the subject written at the time by Katherine Mansfield is forwarded by a correspondent to a northern paper. The letter states: I am very interested that Koteliansky thinks the German-Russian treaty very good. Manoukhin and all the Russians here say it means war in the near future, for certain. For certain it is the beginning of Bolshevism all over Europe. The Bolshevists at Genoa arc complete cynics—they say nothing. They are absolutely laughing in their beards at the whole affair, and treating us as fools even greater, than the French. The French at least have a sniff at what may happen, but we go on saying, “ Let us all be good,” and the Russians and Germans burst with religious glee. I was staggered when I heard this. Manoukhin’s partner here, a very exceptional Frenchman, started the subject yesterday, and said why did not we English immediately join the French and take all vestige of power from Germany, This so disgusted me. I turned to Manoukhin. and felt sure lie would agree that it. simply could not be done. But ho agreed absolutely. And they declare—flie Russians here —we are in for another war and for Bolshevism “partoul." It is a nice prospect, isn't it?