ALLIES BLAMED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 1 November 1939, Page 7

ALLIES BLAMED

CONTINUING WAR OPINION OF SOVIET j SPEECH BY MOLOTOV I j FRIENDSHIP FOR NAZIS ! OLD POLICY ENDED DEMANDS ON FINLAND (I'llwc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 1, noon.) LONDON, Oct. 31. The Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, began speaking at 7.45 p.m. Moscow time before a joint session of both chambers of the Supreme Soviet Council in St. Andrew’s Hall of the Kremlin, says

a report received from the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press.

The session voted on an agenda comprising reports on foreign policy and the reports of the west Ukrainian and western White Russian delegates. •Denouncing Britain as the aggressor, M. Molotov declared that Germany was striving for peace. "A continuation of the war for the restoration of Poland is senseless,” he said. Discussing the changes of RussoGerman relations due to the partition of Poland, M. Molotov declared that the Polish rulers boasted of their might, but the Russian and German armies swiftly shattered them. Poland Crushed “Poland—this monstrous product of Versailles —was crushed and Britain and France brought no help,” he continued. “We are not aware what guarantee they gave to Poland.

“This war will make fundamental changes in Europe and The whole world. The traditional policy of unprincipled Russian and German manoeuvring, playing off one against another, has suffered complete bankruptcy. We now have friendly relations between us, as reflected in the Moscow treaty of September 28. “This radical change will affect the entire international situation. Britain and France, although aware that a continuance of the war for Poland is absurd, do not desire that it should be stopped. They seek new excuses to prolong the war with Germany.

“The British and French ruling circles attempt to appear as champions of the rights of democracy and antiHitlerism. Britain announces that its war aim is the destruction of Germany. Germany is now striving for peace, but Britain, which until yesterday was against aggression, is now for war. It is not only senseless, but criminal, to wage such a war for the destruction of Hitlerism camouflaged as a fight for democracy. Fear of German Claims “Fear of Germany’s claims to British and French colonies is at the bottom of the war. The war between Germany and the Anglo-French bloc is only in the first stage. It lias not yet really developed. The changes which it will cause will make old formulas inapplicable. This must be remembered in judging the new European situation.” “A strong Germany is necessary to European peace, but the British and French ideological war with Germany recalls the medieval religious wars. The Allies fear the loss of world supremacy. This war promises nothing to the workers but bloody sacrifice and hardship. Hitlerism may be accepted or rejected, but not through force.”

M. Molotov added that the main points of Russian policy were a free hand in international affairs, a continuation of neutrality, and trying to halt and not spread the war.

Kussian Neutrality

Russia had been neutral and informed all the embassies of that fact when she entered Poland, where 737 Russians were killed and 1862 wounded. The Red Army had captured 900 guns, 10,000 machine-guns, 300,000 rifles, 300 planes, and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition. M. Molotov announced that Russia was demanding a pact from Finland similar to those which were made with the Baltic States and protectorates. The Soviet was interested in the Gulf of Finland, but did not want the Aaland Islands. She was not making demands from Sweden or from Norway. Finland had rejected Russia’s terms as violating tier neutrality. M. Molotov reproached President Roosevelt for interfering in RussoFinnish relations. He denied that Finnish independence was threatened. “Russia offered Finland an exchange of territory in order to protect Leningrad, but this was rejected,” he said.

America’s revision of the Neutrality Act would only prolong the war and enable the munitions makers to make profits. Russia’s policy had been to break up the'Versailles Treaty created by Britain and France with the help of the Urdted Slates, ensuring the defence of Russia and the Baltic State: and not interfering with other countries!”

Regarding the Turkish negotiations, M. Molotov said that Russia wanted a mutual assistance pact limited to he i.Jiacii he,i ui 4 ,re»«. .. ene ,v 'titering the area. Turkey refused.

Russia was ready for a v ; t-d i n ' •ovement in the Russo-Japanese re-

lations and trade talks were imminent.

M. Molotov spoke Tor 90 minutes. The council adopted his report unanimously without discussion after Riving him an ovation.

The council also voted to accept the reports of the White Russian and Ukrainian delegates, and adjourned until 0 p.m. to-morrow-.