DIVIDING SPOILS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20051, 25 September 1939, Page 7

DIVIDING SPOILS

BIG SOVIET GAIN CONCESSION BY NAZIS RUMANIAN CONTACTS QUERIES AS TO PRICE IMPORTANCE TO ALLIES (Eire. Tol. Copyright—United Pro«» Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 25, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times says that because foreign radio reports indicated some days ago that the Soviet had met the Germans at Brest-Litovsk, which is far west of Pinsk, foreign military attaches in Moscow were much surprised at the news that the Soviet troops only on Thursday reached Pinsk. This strengthens the general feeling that difficulties have arisen between the German and Soviet forces concerning the line to which the Soviet forces should advance. The reported departure from" Moscow of the German military mission is imminent, so presumably the differences have been adjusted. It is found difficult to believe that the Germans willingly consented to the Russians occupying Lwow, as it controls all the roads and the railway to Rumania. The important Galician oil wells lie east of Lwow. If the Russians are able to insist on occupying Poland to the enthnographical frontier, those wells should also fall to them.

Excess of Expectations

The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, referring to the Russian-German line through Poland, says the final demarcation grants Russia territory far in excess of expectations. The public believed tftat the Red Army was engaged solely in ‘he liberation of the minorities and are now wondering what is behind the unexpected cession of territory by Germany. The idea of co-operation with the Nazis is a foreign as ever. Russian rejoicing at the idea of foreign conquests, even at the expense of Poland, is inconceivable. The satisfaction, at lthe occupation is based on the feeling that a kindred population has been released from foreign domination. Foreigners in Moscow believe that Germany did not contemplate such extensive concessions. Germany was confident with the references to the British and French inability to defeat Russia and Germany. It is suggested tlfat Herr Hitler 'was obliged to offer the Soviet fresh inducements in the shape of increased Polish territory. It is an anxious question for Britain i and France as to what price Germany enforced from the Soviet for the astounding territorial concessions, although the conviction that the salesman will not get delivery is unchanged.

Policy Towards Turkey

The correspondent states that the most interesting prima facie and the most probable theory of Germany’s gift of territory to Russia concerned Russian and German policy toward Turkey. Even without war, Russia had many reasons to seek to deny the passage of British and French ships through the Bosphorus. It is understood that Germany recently inquired -in Ankara whether, in. exchange for a guarantee for noninvasion of Rumania and any of the Balkan States, she would close the straits to all belligerents.

Most probably one reason for the surrender of territory to .Russia,is the German effort to convince Turkey of her good fdith, pointing out that the surrender of the key to Rumania, if Turkey accepted it, would not necessary "violate her engagements to Britain and France, which will call on Turkish support only if war breaks out in the east Mediterranean. Turkey is obliged to fight only if Italy is allied to Germany or Germany operates in the east Mediterranean. Theoretically, Turkey can still fulfil her obligations in event of _ Italian participation, while preserving the neutrality of the straits by virtue of a possible Turkish-Soviet agreement. Pressure on Rumania Such a guarantee of neutrality would be serious to Britain and France, enabling Germany to squeeze Rumania of oil and foodstuffs. The retention of Soviet reservists, recently mobilised, is probably a prelude to a graver announcement. , The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times states that, despite the official statement that Russia and Germany agreed on the military demarcation of Poland before the Russians march on September 18, the Germans had then passed beyond the line. They later continued to consolidate a’front which they established 100 miles east of the line stated on Friday as the "definite line of military demarcation” agreed upon last week.

It is officially stated in Berlin that Germany is not pressing the siege of Warsaw because it is no longer important for military purposes. “Germany docs not desire to waste a single precious drop of blood in unnecessary fighting," it is stated. Yet in the light of Friday’s communique revealing the demarcation •md the German retreat along the entire front, it is obvious that much orecious blood has been wasted in the territory handed over to Russia.

It is admitted that both sideds passed beyond the ethnographical borders of their respective minorities: indeed, ‘he minority frontiers appear to have been not. considered. It is emphasised that the military demarcation is purely a preliminary solution, and does not affect the final borders.