INSCRUTABLE RUSSIA.

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 12

INSCRUTABLE RUSSIA.

The Russians, whole divisions of them, who went by night trains through England at the beginning of the last war, come from Archangel to give aid on the hard-pressed Western Front, were a myth. That was so, despite the thousands of Englishmen who claimed to have seen them. One explanation had it that they were men from Rossshire, who involuntarily misled southern inquirers when asked where they came from by their pronunciation of those husky syllables. The Russian reservists who are reported now to be concentrating on their western frontier are a mystery. ‘ Pravda ’ says that they are there to protect the frontier against Polish soldiers who may bo driven across it. Other reports suggest that they are there to help, or as a precaution against, the Germans. It all depends on the country of origin of the report. The Soviet-German treaty of nonaggression, for that matter, is still very much a mystery. Just what it means may be clearer when we know the meaning of this frontier mobilisation—if the mobilisation has not been exaggerated out of all conscience. The Stalin Government, it has been ingeniously contended, acted consistently in making its non-aggression treaty because it has always stood for peace. Apparently it was not concerned to prevent aggression against Poland, but who are the Poles? 1 Pravda ’ reproaches them with treating the minorities in their country almost as badly as Germany and Tsarist Russia treated them in their days of power, and Berlin suggests that an agreement has been made now between Germany and the Soviet for a new partition of Poland. When the Nazi legions have done their work a buffer State, under German 11 protection,” no doubt, will be constituted from its central portion, and, as a reward for standing by while the bludgeoning was done, Russia will be given Eastern Poland. It is a question whether Russia would not prefer the whole of Poland as a buffer State between herself and the Nazis. There is not likely to be much mutual trust between the parties to the BerlinMpscow pact. We shall know soon enough what M. Stalin’s intentions are. The troop movements may mean nothing more than the disarming of fugitives. It is hard to see how Russia has any need for new territory. The Soviet Republic, however, did not scruple to coerce both Georgia and the Ukraine to prevent their exercising the right of “ self-determination ” for the curtailment of Moscow’s vast domains. And the actions of Russia in Outer Mongolia have not lacked all resemblance to ways of the “ old diplomacy.” The ideas of Communism, which confines wars to class wars, do not necessarily govern Russia under M. Stalin’s administration. “ National Socialism ” Socialism in one country—has been substituted—temporarily or permanently —for the old international ideas, and the Russian now talks 11 patriotism ” and is encouraged in it. Germany also calls her system 11 National Socialism.” One country is as much a dictatorship as the other. 11 Stalin is probably the most powerful single human , being in the world,” writes Mr John Gunther. And the policy followed by Russia will be Stalin’s, whether it is naturally congenial to the Communist Party or the Communist International or not. The 'probability is that Stalin wants nothing but peace—for Russia, with small care for the rest of the world. There is talk of a non-aggression pact to be made now between Russia and Japan. That will not necessarily affect the West, but it will be bad for the Chinese. The strength of Russia for warfare, after all her purges, might be great or almost nil. No one knows much about that inscrutable country. Between hopes and fears and designs and propaganda there is certain to bo no lack of puzzling and disturbing reports while the war continues. From the home front what they demand is suspended judgments and calm heads.