SOVIET AIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 5

SOVIET AIMS

TURKISH PACT MUTUAL ASSISTANCE BLACK SEA SAFEGUARD LITHUANIAN HOPES RECOVERY OF CAPITAL (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 5. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Ort.. 4. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says it is authoritatively stated that Russia is now proposing a pact of mutual assistance with Turkey to be invoked only should a third Power attack. The reason advanced for the proposal is that the Soviet Union is primarily interested in preventing any invasion of the Black Sea area through the Dardanelles. It is understood that the Soviet’s proposals do not involve Turkey’s abandonment of her obligations to England and France. Couched in Friendly Terms The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times says that the Soviet’s invitation to the Lithuanians to visit Moscow is said to be couched in more friendly terms than might be expected. “The Lithuanians do not seem anxious concerning the demands likely to be made and the hope is even expressed unofficially that Lithuania may realise her dream of recovering her former capital, Vilna, which Poland seized,” adds the correspondent. “Actually, however, it seems that the utmost Lithuania can hope for is a privileged commercial position in Vilna in exchange for granting to the Soviet of privileges on Lithuanian railways and at the ports.” A further Moscow message states that the paper Izvestia, violently attacks Britain, accusing her of trying to use important strategic points in the Baltic as naval bases against the Soviet,