SOVIET HOPE FROM CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 20, 19 October 1943, Page 5

SOVIET HOPE FROM CONFERENCE

Will Hasten Victory

CHANCE FOR EUROPE’S REHABILITATION

Public’s Brighter Mood (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 18, 9.20 p.m.)

LONDON. October 17.

"Russia is awaiting the three-l’ower conference in the hopeful expectation that in the military, political and economic councils, decisions will 'be taken that will hasten victory,” says the Moscow eorrespoii'dent of "The Tinies.” “It is the Russian view that the task of achieving victory in the shortest time is indissolubly bound up with the opening of a second front in western Europe, obliging the Germans to transfer at least 60 divisions from the eastern front.

“But though in Russian eyes the conference, before becoming involved in discussions on post-war problems, must decide upon measures of making 'the post-war .period a reality, the expectation also runs high that at the meetings Russia will attain the position of equal partnership with her Allies in the ortleriug of European affairs which it sometimes felt she has been denied in the past. “The Russian Press has. recently published articles hailing the joint consultation by the Allies ou Italy’s surrender, the establishment of an Allied political and military commission, and the Hot Springs food conference, as evidence that the relations are firmly founded, and also as evidence of growing inter-Allied solidarity. The Press says that these developments have raised a series of questions for mutual decision and have created a favourable moment for the discussion of essential problems arising from the war. “Straws in the wind from the Kremlin indicate that Russia wants in the lands immediately beyond her frontiers Governments which would recognize that their people’s best interests lie in friendly relations with Russia. “The straws also indicate that Russia wauls in Europe generally conditions in which restoration of peace and prosperity can be undertaken immediately following upon a German collapse. It is firmly believed that this policy will ’be gravely prejudiced by a prolongation of hostilities. People’s Optimism. “It would, be difficult to persuade any Russian that the worst has not passed. The people believe that the brighter days’ have come to stay. There is a dreadfully dark background, a knowledge of suffering and a realization that the battles which are now being fought are as costly as any during the advance, but Moscow is profoundly different from when Mr. Eden arrived to lay the foundations of the British-Russian alliance two years ago. Workmen are scouring the walls of the Kremlin, a number of theatres have been reopened, 50 churches are open, and some buildings and trolly-buses have been given a coat of paint. “Moscow is preparing a great welcome for Messrs. Eden and Hull, and this will have given Berlin cold comfort.”

It is believed in London that the conference will achieve, first, the establishment of machinery for closer international collaboration; secondly, abolition of the differences over the question of a second front; thirdly, understanding on Russia’s attitude toward Japan. Wellinformed circles say that the Japanese question has not yet been discussed as a possible item of the agenda.