PRESENT RULERS OF GERMANY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20065, 11 October 1939, Page 5

PRESENT RULERS OF GERMANY

BALTIC “PROTECTION” WAIVED SWAY ALLOWED SOVIET GOVERNMENT WEAKNESS DISPLAYED TO WORLD DIRE EFFORTS TO AVOID DISASTER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) Reed. 11.45 a.m. RUGBY, October 10. Developments in north-east Europe arising'from the new relations established between Iho Nazi and Soviet systems and affecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and now Finland, are seen in London as affording renewed evidence of the complete cynicism of the present rulers of Germany and of their complete disregard of principle, or even of their own past professions. By their efforts to secure from Russia a favourable, or at least an indifferent, attitude in the war f with the Western Powers to which their policy of military adventure has led, the Nazi chiefs have involved themselves in a most unheroic abandonment of their past'claims., to the exercise of control in the Baltic and to be the protectors of Estonia, Latvia;and Lithunia from Bolshevism. Seeming Act of Treachery. To 1 hose States, which in the past the Nazis have claimed lie within the German sphere of cultural influence, the Berlin Government’s attitude to the advance of Soviet influence must appear as an act of treachery, but the outside world will be struck chiefly by its significance as a demonstration of Germany’s weakness. It is, indeed, a matter for surprised comment among observers that the Nazi Government has been ready so soon to accept an adjustment of the grandiose assumptions upon which Herr Hitler must have started his wnr of aggression, • and to face the necessity of jettisoning much which they must have once believed to be secure in order to seek to avert disaster. A Moscow report states that the Soviet is pouring planes; and troops into the Baltic bases. Battleships are being concentrated at Kronstadt. Hundreds of thousands of troops are massed on the Finnish border.