SOVIET POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23955, 2 November 1939, Page 7

SOVIET POLICY

REMAINING NEUTRAL M. MOLOTOV’S REVIEW REFERENCES TO BRITAIN DENOUNCED AS AGGRESSOR (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) • LONDON, Oct. 31. M. Molotov began speaking at 7.4!) p.m. (Moscow time) before a Joint session of both chambers of the Supreme Soviet Council at the Kremlin, says a report received from the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. The session voted on the agenda comprising reports on foreign .policy and reports of the west Ukrainian and western White Russian delegates. Denouncing Britain as an aggressor, M. Molotov, declared that Germany was striving for peace. “ Continuation of the war for the restoration of Poland is senseless,” he said. . Discussing the changes in Russo-German relations due to the partition of Poland, M. Molotov declared that the Polish rulers boasted of their might, but the Russian and German armies swiftly shattered them. “Poland—this monstrous product of Versailles —was crushed and Britain and France brought no help. We are not aware what guarantee they gave Poliand. This war will make fundamental changes in Europe and the whole world. The traditional and unprincipled policy of playing off Russia and Germany against one another has suffered complete bankruptcy. We now have friendly relations between us, as reflected in the Moscow Treaty of September's... This radical change will affect the entire international . situation. CONTINUATION of war senseless “ Britain and France, although aware that the continuance of the war for Poland is absurd, do not desire it stopped. They seek new excuses to prolong the war with Germany. British and French ruling circles attempt to appear as champions of the rights of democracy and anti-Hitlerism. Britain announces that its war aim is the destruction of Germany. Germany is now striving for peace, but Britain, which until yesterday was anti-aggression, is now for war. It is not only senseless, but criminal to wage such a war for the destruction of Hitlerism camouflaged as a fight for democracy. The fear of Germany’s claims to the British and French colonies is at the bottom of the war. The war between Germany and the Anglo-French bloc is only in its first stage. It has not yet really developed. • The changes which it would cause would make the old formulas inapplicable. This must be remembered in judging the new European situation. “A strong Germany is necessary to European peace, but the British and French ideological war with Germany recalls mediaeval - religious wars. The Allies fear the loss of world supremacy. This war promises nothing to the workers but bloody sacrifice and hardship. Hitlerism may be accepted or rejected, but not through force.” M. Molotov added that the main points of Russian policy were a free hand in international affairs, the continuation of neutrality, and trying to halt, not spread, war. Russia has been neutral and had informed all embassies of that fact when she entered Poland, where 737 Russians were killed and 1862 wounded. The Red Army captured 900 guns, 10,000 machine guns, 300,000 rifles, 300 planes, and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition. PACT DEMANDED FROM FINLAND M. Molotov announced that Russia was demanding a pact from Finland similar to those which made the Baltic States protectorates. The Soviet was interested in the Gulf of Finland, but did not want the Aaland Islands. She was not making demands from Sweden or from Norway. Finland had rejected Russia’s terms as violating her neutrality. M. Molotov reproached President Roosevelt for interfering in Russo-Finnish relations. He denied that Finnish independence was threatened. “Russia offered Finland an exchange of territory in order to protect Leningrad, but this was rejected,” he said. America’s revision of the Neutrality Act would only, prolong the war and enable munitions makers to make profits. Russia’s policy had been to break up the Versailles Treaty as created by Britain and France, with the help of the United States, ensuring the defence of Russia and the Baltic States and not interfering with other countries. With regard to the Turkish negotiations M. Molotov said Russia wanted a mutual assistance pact limited to the Black Sea to prevent enemy ships entering, but Turkey refused. M. Molotov made no promise of military help to Germany, but said it was desired to develop Russian-German economic relations to their mutual benefit. ' Russia, he added, was ready for a vital improvement in RussoJapanese relations. Trade talks were imminent. M. Molotov spoke for 90 minutes. The Council adopted his report unanimously without discussion, after giving him an ovation. The Council also voted on the report of the White Russian Ukrainian delegates, and adjourned until 6 p.m. to-morrow. ,

GERMAN SEAPLANE FRUITLESS ATTACK ON CONVOY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 6.30 p.m.) The Admiralty and the Air Ministry announce: “An enemy seaplane was seen by R.A.F. aircraft off the Norfolk coast this morning. After a short engagement at close .yange the enemy aircj'fjt broke off the combat and new away in an easterly direction. ' Shortly after, a German seaplane of the same type attempted to attack a •British convoy some miles to the north. It was driven off by aircraft and fire from a naval escort. Before flying away to the eastward the raider appeared to drop two bombs, but no damage was done.’’ POLAND AND EAST PRUSSIA SETTLEMENT OF GERMANS COPENHAGEN. Oct. 31. The Politiken learns that the Nazis Have decided to settle 750,000 Germans in Poland and 2,000,000 in East Prussia - '£he first batch of 2000 from Estonia is .already safely housed. Several thousand Jews interned in Czechoslovakia have been sent to the Lublin area, from where Aryans have been moved. 1 A POLISH AIRMAN ' r ENLISTMENT IN CANADA WINNIPEG. Oct. 31. John Rzepka. aged 4(1. a Pole, who was a member of von Richthofen’s circus for two years, has enlisted in ♦he Air Force.

CENSORSHIP DELAYS HOUSE OF LORDS DISCUSSION LONDON, Oct. 31. Lord Strabolgi, in the House of Lords, raised the question of hindrance to exports which the postal and cable censorship delays were causing. He said there was great delay from Australia and New Zealand. He received a letter on October 20 from Wellington posted by air mail on September 5. The resumption of air mails to various countries was of little use unless the censorship was speeded up. Viscount Cobham (Under-Secretary for War), replying, said much criticism of postal arid telegraphic delays was ill-founded. Where there were delays thev were not always attributable to censorship. Transport disorganisation was largely responsible for the delays from Australia and other distant countries. The Government was considering a special censorship section to deal with air mail letters. Viscount Cobham announced that a number of commercial codes were being allowed within a few weeks and arrangements with other parts of the Empire were being awaited. CONSUL-GENERAL AT TIRANA BRITISH APPOINTMENT LONDON, Oct. 31. Britain has asked Italy to permit the appointment of a British Consulgeneral at Tirana, where administrative difficulties, which have been considerable since Italy took over Albania, have increased owing to the war. Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, said it was proposed to appoint Mr Graftey Smith to be Consulgeneral in Albania in succession to Sir Andrew Ryan.