BRITAIN & RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1939, Page 5

BRITAIN & RUSSIA

PROSPECTS OF AGREEMENT FRIENDLY CONVERSATIONS IN MOSCOW. NO CHANGE IN SOVIET POLICY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) IUIGBY, May 9. Reports of yesterday’s friendly conversation between tbe British Ambassador. Sir William Seeds, and Al. Molotov and the Soviet Premier have reinforced the opinion held in official circles in London, as the result of earlier assurances. that Al. Litvinoff’s resignation does not portend any change in the general direction or in the main objectives of the Soviet’s foreign policy. The considered views of the Soviet on the British attitude, as expressed by Sir William Seeds, .must now be awaited. PROGRESS MADE SOVIET PUSHING AHEAD WITH PREPARATIONS. . MOSCOW, May 9. The British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, and the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, met for two hours yesterday and made progress toward clarifying the positions of the two countries. Sir William Seeds explained the British reply to the Soviet proposals. In the meanwhile the Soviet is pushing ahead with its military preparedness. Fourteen military academies yesterday passed out 2143 graduates and are now training more than 200,000. JAPAN CONCERNED OVER BRITISH APPROACHES TO RUSSIA. 3 TOKIO, May 9. The Foreign Minister, M. Arita, speaking at a meeting of local governors yesterday, declared that Japan was unable to ignore the British approaches to Russia. He added that the AntiComintern Pact must be strengthened to allow Japan to cope with future international situations.