SOVIET ATTITUDE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21418, 12 May 1941, Page 7

SOVIET ATTITUDE

STALIN TAKES OVER MORE DIRECT CONTROL NEW MOVE DISCUSSED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, May 10 Nobody inside or outside the Soviet Union foresaw Stalin’s assumption of the Premiership—chairmanship of the Union Council of People’s Commissars—yet in retrospect it appears that the move was consistent with Stalin’s methods, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Times. By luck or uncanny instinct, Stalin, directly after the revolution, acquired and held what for 20 years has proved to be the most important key position in Russia—the secre-tary-generalship of the Communist Party, which put rivals into Stalin’s hands, while he himself remained practically unassailable. The army was the Communist Party’s sole potential rival, but the party’s grip upon it was firm in peace time. In war time, however, the army must necessarily possess greater freedom of action and be less embarrassed by the party’s control, and also formally responsible directly to the Government rather than to the party. Eliminating Rivals Conceivably, under, the stress of war, the head of the Government might short-circuit the party’s secretary and act too directly, and also too independently with the army, thus undermining the party secretary’s authority and possibly producing rivals. The premiership, therefore, during a major war, possesses greater directive power than party leadership, and so Stalin becomes Premier, ready to face any emergency. The promotion of Stalin may be interpreted as reflecting that he considers participation in the war not improbable, and is determined to figure as the real and formal head of the Government, functioning in accordance with the so-called Stalin constitution. Personally Settling Differences The Soviet is unlikely to enter the war directly against Britain, and it is scarcely likely that Stalin would begin a war against Germany unless he was quite convinced that it was inevitable. Then he might take the initiative rather than allow Hitler to choose the time and place. Diplomatic circles in Moscow believe that Stalin in order to maintain the Soviet policy of peace and neutrality, is personally settling Russo-German differences over the German penetration of the Balkans. The diplomatic correspondent of the Times says the latest Soviet action may be interpreted as a broad hint to Britain, which has not recognised the inclusion of the Baltic States in the Soviet Union. Moscow considers this the main obstacle to better relations between Britain and the Soviet. ‘EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESSES’ GERMAN EXAGGERATIONS RESULTS OF BOMBING ATTACKS (United Press Assn.—E*ec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 12, 1 p.m.) BERLIN, May 11 The German official agency claims that late reports of the bombings of the Midlands last night indicated exceptional successes. It claims that a fuselage plant and motor works at Coventry was destroyed by direct hits, and that low-diving planes smashed two aluminium plants at Birmingham. The same agency reports that submarines have sunk 29,800 tons of shipping in the north Atlantic during the past few days. ROME, May 11 The High Command said today that two cruisers were hit and gravely damaged by Italian bombers in the repeated attacks on British naval formations in the Western Mediterranean.