SOVIET POLICY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 28 November 1939, Page 12

SOVIET POLICY

SHARP DIFFERENCES MOLOTOV & COMINTERN BRITISH PRESS VIEWS

LONDON, Nov. 9. Attention is being directed to the sharp difference between the wording of M. Molotov’s speech and that of the Comintern manifesto. M. Molotov declared: “No effort to draw the Soviet Union into the war can succeed.” The manifesto, declared: “The ruling quarters in Britain, France, and Germany are conducting the war for world domination. Capitalist countries which entered late into the arena of colonial expansion are lighting against British. French, and American world-rule.” From this definition, as applied to Germany, it is now thought that, apart altogether from other considerations, Russia will not go to Germany’s aid because of purely political or ideological reasons. It is believed that the manifesto was designed to provide the world’s work-

ers with a fuller explanation of M. Molotov's declaration that the Soviet Union would not be drawn into war. Allied Press Critical. Apart from being welcomed for its reiteration of Soviet neutrality, M. Molotov’s speech has aroused caustic criticism and ironic comment in the British and French press.

The Daily Telegraph considers that M. Molotov's review is full of the startling paradoxes of which Mr. Bernard Shaw has hitherto been regarded as a pastmaster. “For instance," it says, “M. Molotov upbraids Britain and France in good round terms for seeking to extend ’ their influence so as to escape from 1 the bankruptcy of the capitalist world. He then contrasts this Imperialist ; policy with the Soviet’s policy of - peace, and claims as one of the greater r triumphs of his peace policy the an- - nexation of eastern Poland." - The Daily Mail says: “Hitler lakes ■ a few more kicks from his friend | I j S'alin. Germany’s hopes of a final j military alliance with Russia are thus ) finally crushed." , Commenting on M. Molotov's mes--1 sage to the world’s workers, including , s Germans, lo “light the enemy in your )' own country," the Daily Mail observes: ' j "The only possible enemy in Germany ; s i is the Nazi Party, since there is no -other legal organisation. The Soviet

Government has for years protested that it was not responsible for the Comintern. Hitler never believed that, or he would not have formed the Anti-Comintern front. Does he believe it now?" Grotesque Suspicions.

The Manchester Guardian, referring to the speech and the manifesto, says: “Though they are not without their humorous side, it is distressing to read these astonishing statements by the Soviet leaders who so recently spoke for international iustice and urged residence lo acts of aggression. The British Government should certainly do everything in its power to dispel their grotesque suspicions, even though it fears the task to be impossible.” The Birmingham Post says: "When the Fuehrer declared that NationalSocialism remained National-Socialism ! and that communism remained com- , munism, in .spite of their pact for a j 'particular purpose, he little dreamed | that within a few weeks Russian .Communism would be calling on his : own people to rise against himself 1 and be throwing back to the policy of , world revolution. He has the plainest of warnings to-day that Moscow's policy is directed towards Communist 1 ends alone, and that his place in Communist eyes is that of —something to be got rid of.”