GERMAN HOPES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 3

GERMAN HOPES

PEACE OFFER TO RUSSIA?, SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE LONDON. Aug. 9. Observers in London point out that a significant change has taken place in Germany’s military and political policy towards Russia. The German press and radio have ceased their fierce attacks on the Soviet Government, and German diplomats abroad are intensifying a whispering campaign in neutral and satellite countries about the possibility of a separate German and Russian peace. According to reports received in London, the German leaders would go a long way to obtain such a peace. It is believed that the talk of peace serves the purpose of scaring neutrals like Turkey and Sweden, and of keeping satellites like Finland, Hungary, and Rumania clinging to German apron strings. The Stockholm correspondent of the Evening News says that a peace move towards Russia is likely to follow the conference at Hitler’s headquarters, and adds: “ It is believed that the Nazi chiefs have decided on an all-out effort to buy off Russia from the war. Russia might be offered the return of her 1941 frontiers, with the exception of the Ukraine, and large slices pf Poland and Rumania. If Russia refuses to accept the proposals, the next Axis step would be to threaten the Soviet with a Japanese invasion.”