RUSSIA DETERMINED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 228, 26 September 1945, Page 5

RUSSIA DETERMINED

HER OWN DEFENCE SHE WANTS A SOUND TERRITORIAL POSITION

(Special London Correspondent) London, Sept., 24

A feeling that Russia is determined to make sure that she secures a territorial position which will be equally good for defence or offence against western Europe is tended to be confirmed by events of recent days and the failure of the Council of Foreign Ministers to reach an agreement on any point they have discussed. Whether the council will continue its discussions is being considered at the moment. If they break down, then a feeling that the victorious Allies are drifting away from international co-operation towards the for mation of power blocks will inevitably be strengthened. A hint that the council may continue its talks in a more nopeful atmosphere is perhaps contained in comment by the Russian newspaper ’•Pravda,” which was broadcast fiom Moscow. “No one denies that difficulties have arisen,” said the paper. “That they would arise is evident from the questions to be discussed, but the collaboration experienced between the great Powers during the war gave ground for a conviction that insurmountable difficulties do not exist.”

It is remarked here that if this observation may be interpreted as an indication that some compromise may be found, such a result would be in keeping with Russian methods of negotiations—at first adamant, but willing to dilute claims in the face oi strong opposition. Only the Russians know what real motives lie behind their apparent desire to divide Europe into blocs, bue there is something perhaps to be said for their present attitude, namely their experience with the western nations during the years between the two wars. “Liberator,” in the “Observer” remarks the Russians’ actions are probably for defensive and not expansionist or aggressive reasons, “but that is not the point. The Russians are now acting as the Allies did in Paris in 1919, and we are paying dearly for a long record of inter-AUied suspicion and of hostility to the Soviet Union, which began with the short-sighted rivalries and the hard bargaining intrigues of that unhappv time.” Saying that Soviet foreign policy ia showing certain constant elements which deserve some emphasis, •’Liberator’’ remarks: “Throughout the war, all actions and treaties by the Soviet were ostensibly amed against Germany and against the possibility of a German recovery (with the help of others) after the war. The danger of aggression from Germany or Italy no longer exists, so long as they are not encouraged from outside. This has to be recognised if we want to understand what is going on at Lancaster House (where the Ministers are conferring? The Russians are still very suspicious and fear their former Allies rather more than their former enemies. Therefore they are willing to be as tough as they like towards those enemy nations who fall within the influence of the west and as accommodating as they can be to those who come within their own purview. SECURITY PROBLEM. “The actual pattern of the Soviet security system is also becoming clearer,” “Liberator” continues. “The land bloc in eastern Europe was formed and cemented during the final phases of the war and presents a solid barrier between western Europe and the Soviet Union, but this is only the case if viewed from west of the European continent. Russian geopoliticiars in Moscow get an entirely different perspective. They see this protective 600 miles bloc across the comparatively narrow tongue of central Europe from Trieste to Lubeck, but they see also 1500 miles of the open Black Sea flank extending from Albania and Azarbaiian in the south, and a similar situation in the Scandinavian north.

‘Russian policy on this open flank has birily matured. There has been persistent trouble in Iran, and the war of nerves and propaganda against the Turks has been accompanied by spec fie but never officially formulated demands for bases ; n the Straits, a*-d for territory in Turkish Armenia. More latterly there has been definite interest in and almost encouragement of the activities of the Arab League. “KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.” “The Russians in their present mood will follow any imperialist lead with their traditional determination. They know w.at. they want. From Istanbul to Tangier, and from Leros to Aden, the r security D lan requ'res at least partial control over all narrows.”

Apart, from the council’s failure to reach decisions, another tendency to view with misgiving here is for the status of France and China to be questioned, and for the conference to revert 1o three Power deliberations. Th s is stated to be a narticularlv unhappy thrust jn view of the helpful, moderating influence that the French and Chinese delegate? have brought to bear and gone some wav in hardening fears of a tendency for decisions of the future of the world to b« decided bv three Powers, and not by an international body. Whle there is still a disposition to look on the brighter side and trust that reason and gond sense will prevail in decisions taken, there is nn hiding a belief that a grave v'ew of the councii”s differences s taken here and that events of the next few days will he all imnorta- t. “The Times” d’olomatic correspondent savs the Balkans shadow .‘till lies heavily across the councTs work. The Ministers to-day tried to leave : t behind and went on to other items, including American proposals for ’ - tev-nationalisine the Rhne. Elbe, Oder, the Danube and the Kiel Canal, hut they were <=oon involved in same kird of difficulty as prevented agreement over Balkan treaties They were brought un against the fundamental ouestion whether Europe

must fall into stronglv defended spheres of influence, n- whether bv a reversal of the present tendercies a pew pttemnf to treat It as a whole could be made.