MUTUAL DISTRUST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20047, 20 September 1939, Page 5

MUTUAL DISTRUST

GERMANS AND RUSSIANS AMERICAN OPINION ADVANCE BY SOVIET POLITICAL GAIN SEEN (Rccd. Sept. 20, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 18. The Moscow correspondent of _ the New York Times says that British authoritative circles do not believe the latest Russian move in invading Poland was planned at the time of the signature of the . Russian-Geiman non-aggression pact; on the contrary, mutual Russian-German distrust is emphasised.

They believe that the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, promised that the German troops would not approach nearer a line running through Brest-Litovsk. When the goviet saw the Germans nearing the line, she decided to act and notified Germany which put on its best face and pretended to give approval to the move.

From a military point of view the Russians have not improved their position vis-a-vis Germany. The fortification of the new line similarly to hold the frontier will take time, but politically the Soviet has gained considerably, as apart from.the fact that the 'Germans have been prevented from aporoaching the Soviet border and seizing the Ukraine, the invasion has given Russia easy access to Europe.

Ironically, the Hungarians whose hatred of the former President o! Czechoslovakia, Dr. E. Benes, was based on the allegation that the Rus-sian-Czech pact brought Russia back to Central Europe, now have Russian troops along their frontier, but unless Russia co-operates Germany is again barred from the Rumanian oilfields, except via Hungary.

The first feelings of shocked bewilderment among the Russian people were quickly replaced with satisfaction and some jingoism over the orowess of the glorious Red Army. The intelligentsia are pleased that the Soviet has “resumed her proper task of liberating oppressed people.”

It is not expected that the Soviet system will be established, but rather that the area occupied and controlled will be a State similar to Outer Mongolia. There will be at present no attempt at socialisation.