HOSTILE TO RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24261, 1 April 1940, Page 6

HOSTILE TO RUSSIA

POWERS INDICTED MOLOTOV’S OUTBURST PROPOSED NORTHERN PACT "A DESIRE FOR REVENGE ” - (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) MOSCOW, Mar. 30. (Received Mar. 31, at 7 p.vn.) The Commissar for Foreign Affairs, M. Molotov, addressing the Supreme Soviet Council, indicted England and France. He affirmed that the Soviet.would not intervene in the “big war,” but significantly warned Sweden and Norway against a defensive alliance with Finland, and, obviously referring to Turkey; declared: “ Some of our neighbours, are playing with fire, and develop-: ments in Syria are suspicious.” ; “There have been many instance* during the past five months of Brit-; ish and French hostility towards Russia. In the Russo-Finish war,, England, France, and other Imperialist States participated in the war against Russia because Finland is a ready-made base for military: operations against the Soviet. , The hostility culminated in Britain seizing two Russian ships and refusing to fulfil long-standing , industrial orders, and France attaching our Paris Trade Mission’s moneys and requesting M. Souritz’s withdrawal. The explanation is frustrated AngloFrench hope to use Russia against Germany. England and France wish to force upon us a policy of war against Germany. Russia is not, and will riot be, an instrument of alien policy. .. A, review of the recent past reveals that we have achieved no mean successes, safeguarding the security of- Russia. This infuriated ;our enemies, but we have faith in our cause and our strength. We shall continue consist eritly our policy in future.”

Attack on Leningrad Prevented “ Finland by 1939 had been converted into a military base for use by third Powers in an attack against Leningrad. Finland’s hostility to Russia last, autumn was not accidental, but the Red Army broke through defences which had previously been regarded as impregnable. It not only prevented an attack ba « Leningrad, but also frustrated : the third party’s more extensive plans against Russia. As- a whole, it. was not an encounter with Finland; it was an encounter between our troops and the combined forces of a number of countries hostile to Russia, including Britain, France;, Sweden, Italy, and the United States. Our casualties were-48,745 dead and 158,863 wounded. Finland’s casualties are estimated at 60,000 dead and 250,000 wounded. Russia must range herself against attempts to violate the Russo-Fin-nish peace, notably, from Finland,, Sweden, and Norway,' .under, the: .pretext of a defensive alliance which is obviously directed 1 against Russia under a desire for, revenger We consider, the Swedish and Nor-, wegian participation in such alliance as an abandonment .of their neutrality. We at present are not in conflict with Sweden and Norway and do not desire their ports. Fulfilling Obligations 1 »" “ Our relations with Turkey and Iran are determined by treaties of non-aggression and we are resolved to fulfil our obligations. The fantastic plans ascribed to Russia for a. military campaign against India, Egypt, etc., are obviously absurd, but in Syria and the Near East generally there is a suspicious hubbub regarding the formation of a British, and French colonial army. Any attempt to use these troops for pun-" poses hostile- to Russia would, demand ■ our taking * immediate steps, against the aggressor. Russia does not intend to retake Bessarabia from ’Rumania by war. Our relations are not improved with Japan, which must realise that the Soviet will not tolerate a violation of its interests. Russian imports from the United States increased this year and could increase further if the Government did not place obstacles in the way of a Russo-American trade.” ■ • 0 Rumania’s Foreign Trade M. Molotov announced that fhf Kuusinen Government agreed to dissolve before the Russo-Finnish peace. The supreme Soviet had agreed' to the formation of a Russp-Finnish Karelian republic. He declared: “Britain and France seek to ratify hostile acts against the Soviet on the ground that the Soviet is helping Germany in the war against Britain and France by trading with her. These arguments are Hot worth a farthing. German-Rumanian trade is much more important than SovietGerman trade. One half of Rumania’s entire foreign trade goes to \ Germany. M. Molotov said that Britain and France wish to force the Soviet into a policy of hostility and war against the Germans, which would give them the opportunity of utilising the Russians for their imperialist aims. The Soviet had always pursued, and will pursue its own policy, regardless whether it pleases gentlemen of the other countries or not. We will not participate in a big war, but will pursue an independent attitude., A message from Helsinki states that M. Molotov’s figures with regard to Finnish casualties are described as grossly exaggerated. Finnish listeners were surprised that there was no reference to the Soviet military alliance with Germany, v