WAR DANGER NOT REAL

Chronicle (Levin), 25 September 1946, Page 5

WAR DANGER NOT REAL

Press Assn

Friendly Co-operation STALIN SEES POSSIBILITY

By Telegraph

.-Comjright

Received Tuesday, 11.30 p.m. LOXDOX", Sept. 24. Generahssimo Stalin does not bel'ieve there is real danger of ■war and does not believe Britain and Ameriea are trying to estabiish .a capitalist eneirclement oi Russia, Jloseow radio says. Ile .said this in reply to questions by .the Sunday Times correspondent, Mr. Alexander AVerth. "All sueh talk at prosent eaine from certain intercsted inilitary and political cireles," said Stalin. "You must differentiate between the voice abont a new Ava r Avliieli is spread today and tlic iteal danger of a iu'av Avar wliich does not exist at prescnt. Tlie g'ossip about a new \var by eertain interested military and political cireles, is desig'iied, firstly, to frighlen poli- • tical opponents witli the spectre of war, and thns help their Governments to gain more concessions from theni. Seeondly, it is designed to mahe it more difficult to cut 1 military budgets and thirdly to slow down demobilisation and thereby evade a quiek growth of unemplo3rment in their conntries." Oener.alissimo Stalin denied that Russian poliey vvas intended

to tuni (lerniany against Western Burope or against United States. He said sneh a eourse would be opposed to Russian national interests. Russian poliey on Gerrnan qnestions amonnted to the demilitarisation and democratisation of Cermany wliieli, he believed, represented oue of 1h- most important gnarant.ees for the establishment of tirm lasting eooperation Intween the Rnssian and western demoeraeies, desj>ite the exisfence of ideologieal ditt'ere.ue.es of opinion. Genei'alissimo Stalin denied acensalions that Ihe poliey of the Oommnnist. parties of Western Knrope wero' dietated by M.oseow. lle deseribed the aecnsations as "absurd flies borrowed l'rom the rrsonal of Hitler and Goebbels". Generalissimo Stalin said he hehev.ed it possiblo to establish friendly eooperation between the Rnssian and Western democratic svstems as snggestcd by Mr. Ilenrv Wallaee. He Avas really eertain of the possibility of Jriendlv relations between Russia and Britain. A strengthening of the politeal and cnltnral ties between these eonntries Avonld considerably eontribnte towards the establishnient of such relations. Asked Avhether he believed the ea rliest withdrawal of Ameriean troops from Ohina to be vital for peace, Genei'alissimo Stalin said

he did not. 1 o the question "Do you be lieve virtual monopoly by Ameriea over the atomie bomb constitutes oue of the main threats to peaee ?" Generalissimo Stalin replied : "I do not believe the atomie bomb to be as serious a foree as eertain politicians are inelined to regard it. The atomie bomb is intended to intiinidate the weak nerved but eannot decide the f'ate of war sinee the atomie bomb would by 110 means suffice for this pnrpose. The monopolistic possession of the seeret of the atomie bomb does not ereate a threat but at least two remedies exist against it. Firstly, the seeret eannot last long and seeondly the atomie bomb will be prohibited. " Mr. AVerth asked Generalissimo Stalin "Do you believe, witli the further progress of Russia towards Communism, that the possibilities of peaceful eooperation with the outside world won't decrease as far as Russia is eoneerned ? " Generalissimo Stalin replied: "I have no doubt that the possibilities of peaceful eooperation, far from decreasing, may even grow. ' ' To the question "Is Communism in oue country possible?" Generalissimo Stalin ansivered : 4

"Communism in oue country is perfeetly possible, espeeially in a country like Russia." Replying to a question as to whether he believed Britain and Ameriea ivere consciously creat ing the capitalist eneirclement of Russia, Generalissimo Stalin said: "I do not think Britain and Ame rica could er.eate a capitalist en circlement for Russia even if thei vvanted it, which, however, 1 can not assert."