NOT PENETRATED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1942, Page 3

NOT PENETRATED

MOLOTOV’S INCOGNITO DURING TREATY MAKING JOURNEYS. FRINENDLY CONVERSATIONS IN LONDON. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, June 11. “Mr Smith from abroad” was M. Molotov’s title while he was in Britain, lie’ travelled round London in a closed car accompanied by armed police, and word went, to sentries and officials that no questions were to be asked about the man who hurried in and out of No. 10 and the Foreign Office. However, Mr Churchill invited M. Molotov to return as soon as he can so that he can see the people of Britain and be seen by them. The Prime Minister also placed Chequers (the Prime Minister's ‘country residence in Buckinghamshire) at M. Molotov’s disposal. Messrs Churchill and Eden and MM. Molotov and Maisky dined informally one evening and talked into the small hours, chiefly on the subject of a second front. Their working hours were mostly spent round a small table in the Foreign Office. Both parties spoke freely from the first handshake, giving full military information and exchanging political views of all kinds. While the diplomatic discussions were going on the Russian service experts conferred with the British service chiefs and supply officials. The Russian Embassy in Washington today disclosed that the secret flight of M. Molotov to Washington was made in a Soviet bomber. M. Molotov and his party of 13 arrived four hours ahead of schedule on May 29. and were met only by Embassy officials. No one recognised M. Molotov, even when he went to New York and mingled with the throngs. He visited Radio City and saw all the usual tourist sights.

SENTENCE OF DEATH ON HITLERITE GERMANY. MOSCOW RADIO ON MEANING OF PACT. LONDON, June 12. The Moscow radio, in a special broadcast to the German people, said, “This pact is the death sentence on Hitlerite Germany, and it also means that this sentence will be executed this year, and that Hitlerite Germany will be ground to dust between two vast fronts. Now is an opportunity for the German people to strike at the Hitler regime and save what is best of the German nation. If the German people miss it, Hitler’s criminal lust for power will sacrifice their prime.”

NAZI JIBE MOLOTOV GOES BEGGING. LONDON, June 11. The only German comment on the Anglo-Soviet treaty so far is that M. Molotov had gone begging to the democracies as a last desperate expedient. In Australia (says a Press Association cable) the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, said his Government warmly approved of the treaty, which showed that Britain and Russia had clearly been thinking ‘ hard. The Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, said in Washington that his Government rejoiced that so important an agreement had been reached. While he was in Britain recently he was in close touch with the distinguished Russian statesmen who negotiated the treaty. Ultimately the provisions of such treaties would be extended to secure the world against aggression anywhere. The Government of Canada has lost no time in endorsing the treaty. A message received by the Dominions Office in London states that the Canadian Government is very pleased that the negotiations have reached a'successful conclusion. It believes that the new treaty will greatly contribute to the successful prosecution of the war and to the realisation after the war of the principles of the Atlantic Charter.

FOUNDATIONS LAID FOR NEW LEAGUE OF NATIONS. PRESS COMMENT IN BRITAIN. LONDON, June 12. The “Daily Mail” says that Britain has not previously committed herself in such precise terms to mutual aid of so long a period as 20 years. The treaty provides for the adherence of all nations and lays the foundations for a new League of Nations. The “Daily Telegraph,” in a leader, says: “With the United States and the British Commonwealth working m accord with Russia on the lines laid down in the treaty, Europe can look forward to a period of greater security than it has known for 100 years.” The “Daily Express,” in an editorial, says that the treaty is one of the decisive events of the war. “The pledges given are pledges of victory.” “The Times” in a leading article states: “The cardinal issue of the negotiation of the treaty was one of confidence. There is no reason to deplore the absence of a stipulation about the future map of Europe. Military security and social and economic well-being are more important than doubtful frontiers and political pacts. “As long as the Russians are ranged alone against virtually the whole of Hitler’s land forces the British people and Government will redouble every existing measure of support for the Russians and will explore the possibility of untried measures.”

CHINESE CRITICISM LACK OF CO-OPERATION IN PACIFIC. NEUTRALITY PACT BENEFITING JAPANESE. CHUNGKING, June 11. The newspaper “Takung Pao” ex-, pressed regret that the Anglo-Russian-United States agreement did not provide for operations in the Pacific, and cited the Russo-Japanese neutrality pact as a stumbling block to effective defence in the Pacific against the Japanese menace in which Russian cooperation was urgently needed. The newspaper said the Japanese were taking advantage of the neutrality pact at present and attacking American possessions near Russian territory. “Is is extremely regrettable that the Russians did not even supply the United States with such information,” said the “Takung Pao.” “Russia and America are Pacific Powers. Why have not they yet arranged co-onera-tion against the Japanese onslaught in the northern Pacific?” The newspaper concludes the United States should insist on immediate mihtary and naval co-operation in the Pacific with Russia.