GERMANY AND RUSSIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19372, 9 July 1937, Page 11

GERMANY AND RUSSIA

AN ALLIANCE POSSIBLE PROFESSOR'S VIEWS SYDNEY, June 16. "Despite Herr Hitler's tirades against Russia, there are strong factions in Germany working for a military and commercial alliance between the two countries," said Professor Roberts. Professor of History at Sydney University, in an address to members of the Constitutional Association of New South Wales.

Professor Roberts said thai if Germany's anti-Russian attitude continued there seemed no hope of permanent peace in Europe, but there was always a possibility of a complete and dramatic change, which might have far-reaching results. The cabled reports oi developments in Russia might have special significance in these conditions.

There seemed to be a curious factor in the German mentality, which not only gave a mystic exaltation to the idea of force, but also permitted the modification, drastic alteration, or complete repudiation of a policy which no longer seemed profitable. V'hen in Germany, said Professor Roberts, he had been impressed by the respect which permanent army officers showed for Russia. These officer!, said that the Russians had the only disciplined and well organised army, outside their own country, in Eim-pe. They did not take the Czechs very seriously, and they had no respect at all for the Italians, either as lighting men or as members of a lighting organisation. They believed that a combination of Russia and Germany would be the most certain method of realising the ultimate German aid of world domination. The military were supported by the industrialists. The reasons were obvious. In spite of all the hostile propaganda, Germany was Russia's second-best customer. At present Herr Hitler was violentv anti-Russian, but there was no real'reason, if he thought such a move desirable, why he should not reverse his policy. He could turn his propaganda on and of! as other people used a tap. He could tell the German people that Germany must win Russia away from Communism, and with the present developments in Russia, it would not be hard to persuade them that this was being done.