THE RIDDLE OF RUSSIA

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1940, Page 6

THE RIDDLE OF RUSSIA

The news that Russia has informed Germany and Italy that she expects to be consulted in any further contemplated changes in the Balkan disposition revives the still unsolved riddle of Russia's attitude to Germany as the war progresses. One thing is quite certain. Joseph Stalin will do- exactly what he thinks is most in the interests of Russia and her security. At what point, if at all, will he reach the conclusion that Germany has become too powerful for the welfare of the Soviet Union? # # # # In spite of wishful thinking on the part of citizens of the British Empire there is no disguising the fact that the appointment of Sir Stafford Cripps as British Ambassador to Russia did not achieve the object that was hoped for — a change of attitude in Russia more favourable to Britain. At first it appeared that Britain's accomplished Labour envoy might succeed. Russia was becoming alarmed over Germany's rapid progress through France, and it seemed that she was almost ready to put a spoke in the rapidly revolving wheel of the German war machine. On July 7 Sir Stafford was granted a three-hour conversation with Joseph Stalin. But disappointment came when Comrade Molotov, the Russian Foreign Minister, addressed the Supreme Soviet a short time afterwards, * * * . *

Comrade Molotov recounted with pride the successes of Russia since the beginning of the new relationship with Germany. AJtogether, he said, she had acquired no less than 93,360 square milbs of territory and 23,000,000 people from Poland, Finland, Rumania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The pact with Germany was still strong, he- added, and "all British efforts to weaken it have failed," for the friendship was based "not on fortuitous considerations of a transient nature, but on fundamental State interests." He acknowledged Britain's gesture in sending Sir Stafford Cripps as Ambassador to try to straighten out relations, but commented "It is difficult to imagine good relations: with England, considering all her hostile acts against the Soviet Union." # # # # Relations with Italy, said Comrade Molotov, were "improving steadily," but of the relations between Rusia and th6 United Statfcs he observed bluntly "There is nothing good to say. Soviet success has not pleased the United States, but this deps not interest us." Rather ihterestingly he added that the Soviet regarded both the United States and Jftpan as nations with growing "imperialist appetites." * # # ' # All this did not sound very encouraging to Britain, but it should not be, forgotten that until a little over a year ago such criticism was tame compared with what Russia was then saying about Germany. Trouble Was looming on the horizon last month, and that trouble was German and Italian expansion in the Balkans. It is a well known saying that dictators do not advertise in advance coming changes of policy. Joseph Stalin's obvious hope is that the belligerents in the war, Britain, Germany and Italy alike, will wear down one another to the point oi exhaustion, and Comrade Molotov observed rather significantly in his address to the Supreme Soviet "Germany has not yet achieved her principal objective, namely, termination of the war on terms she considers desirable. . . . Our people must be in a state of mobilised prfeparedness ^so that no tricks by our foreign enemies will catch us unawares." Herr Hitler may yet rus the day when he entered into partnership with so strange a bedfellow.