REASON FOR VISIT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 9

REASON FOR VISIT

Soviet Envoy In Berlin GERMAN STATEMENT

Molotov Talks With Hitler

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, November 12.

M. -Molotov's first talk with Herr Hitler in Berlin this afternoon lasted two and a hall hours. The Soviet Prime Minister was given military honours on his arrival this morning. Reports from Beilin comment on the absence of cetemonv when M. Molotov arrived, and/apart from officials, only a few hundred people were at the station.

M Molotov had a two hours’ conference with Herr von Ribbentrop before meeting the Fuehrer, and von Ribbentrop and the Soviet Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs were present at. the talks with Herr Hitler. The scope of the conversations is not disclosed. . An interesting point is , connected with M. Molotov’s arrival in Berlin. He is reported to have reached the capital by the Anhalter railway station. This is rather odd, because the Anhalter station serves Hint part ot Germany which lies to the south ot Berlin, and to arrive there from the east M. Molotov must have made a considerable detour. Had he arrived by tlic normal route, arriving at the Friedrichstrasse station, he could have made a triumphant journey down the Friedrichstrasse into Unter Den Linden to the Soviet Embassy. Arriving as he did at the Anhalter station, he was compelled to drive through one of the most unattractive quarters of Berlin. It is interesting to recall, as a possible explanation, that on the night ot November 1 the Royal Air Force bombed the Friedrichstrasse station. By doing so they may have unwittingly deprived M. Molotov of an easy and comfortable journey with a pleasant drive at the end of it. German Statement. According to the French wireless, the German Foreign Office handed foreign journalists a statement that M. Molotov’s visit is the logical outcome of the revolution in the European situation and also the signing of the tripartite pact. In view of the new situation resulting from developments in the war and also the tripartite alliance it is necessary to define positively and clearly the position of the Soviet Union. M. Molotov’s visit has the following aims:— , . 1. To fix a basis for political and economic collaboration of the Soviet with the Axis and eventualy with Japan. . 2. To reconsider the basis of the German-Soviet agreement from the viewpoint of more extensive collaboration. Closer Collaboration. Tire visit is particularly significant in the present circumstances because it proves that developments in Europe, notably the signing of (he tripartite pact, have in no way affected perfect realization by Moscow and Berlin of their respective common interests. German-Soviet collaboration, after the signing of the agreement in 1939, has become closer, and has not suffered the slightest reverse, contrary to the allegations of foreign propagandists. It must be emphasized that M. Molotov’s talks in Berlin have no aim in themselves, but are an important phase in the perfect and permanent GermanRussian collaboration. The French wireless added that talks in Moscow will probably follow M. Molotov’s return, and quoted opinion in Moscow political circles that M. Molotov, after his return, will confer with Lieut.-Colonel Tatekawa, Japanese Ambassador, Schulenburg, the German Ambassador, and Italian and Turkish representatives.