PACT WITH NAZIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 8

PACT WITH NAZIS

SOVIET REASONS SURVEY BY MOLOTOV EARLIER NEGOTIATIONS ENGLAND AND PRANCE DOOMED TO FAILURE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 1. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that in asking the Supreme Parliament to ratify the Russo-German non-aggression pact at Moscow, the Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, declared that in order more fully to understand the pact it was necesasry to explain that the difficulties in the negotiations between England, France and the Soviet had proved insurmountable. A mutual aid pact with' Britain and France was significant only if military co-operation were possible, but the negotiations at the staff talks proved not only that Poland had refused Soviet aid, but also that Britain and France, far from objecting to the Polish stand, supported it. Britain had sent minor Officials to negotiate and the military mission did not possess rights or even a mandate, thus dooming the negotiations.

Furthermore, Britain insisted on a clause about indirect aggression, enabling Britain and France to wriggle out of their obligations tb the Soviet. This was tantamount to bluff. The British, and • French attitude was based on contradictions because, on the one hand, they were afraid of aggression and desired a pact with the Soviet in order to augment their strength and on the other hand they were afraid of strengthening the Soviet Union. This fear finally prevailed. . Not till after the Russians were convinced that the negotiations were domed, did they turn to Germany. He emphasised that the Russo-Ger-man pact was a far cry from the mutual aid pact that the Soviet wanted with Britain and France. He claimed that Germany had abandoned her anti-Soviet policy and had offered the most favourable trade treaty ever made, and at a time when others “plotted' to involve us in war.”

He criticised the British and French leaders, who, he, said, insisted , on the Soviet siding with them against Germany, forgetting that it was not necessary for the Soviet to become involved in war either way, “If these gentlemen feel such a strong desire to fight, let them fight without us,” said M. Molotov. “We will see what soldiers they make They are enemies of peace. They seek to break oub relations with Germany.” He added that the Soviet Union was not relying On anything but her own strength. He concluded by stressing Russia’s growing importance in international .affairs.

“The pact proved that all attempts to solve European problems without Soviet participation are doomed to failure,” he said.