PACT WITH RUSSIA?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 7

PACT WITH RUSSIA?

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE MR LLOYD GEORGE ATTACKS GOVERNMENT. MEANS OF CUTTING DOWN RISK OF WAR. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. May 19. The Soviet Ambassador, Al. Maisky, was present when Mr Lloyd George opened I lie Foreign Affairs debate in the House of Commons today. Mr Lloyd George said : “ All 1h is business about Russia proves that Britain does not know what she wants. “There is a great desire, if possible, to do without Russia who offered to come into a pact months ago, but we are staring a gift horse in the mouth, frightened of its teeth, yet not frightened of the teeth of the beasts of prey who are rending one independent country after another at the very moment when we are officially joining in the celebration of their carnivorous triumphs in Madrid.

“The situation ..reminds me of the spring of 1918. Everyone feels that a great attack is coming, but none knows where the blow will fall. The dictators are speeding up the armaments at an unprecedented rate in an atmosphere of secrecy. “The way to keep out of war is to assemble such a force (France, Turkey and Russia) as will make the dictators realise they cannot risk war without disaster. ' Germany’s idea, now, as always,- is for a speedy decision. She would have achieved it in 1914 but for- Russia. The moment she failed to achieve a speedy victory the game was up.

“The German military authorities are now working out a scheme for a quick decision on land and by air and are enormously increasing the power of their submarines. They have 20,000 tanks armed with big guns and capable of travelling over any country with amazing speed. Germany possesses more bombers than Britain. “Germany will undoubtedly choose as the. point of attack Poland’s 1500mile frontier. How can we send reinforcements? It is impossible to redeem our pledge to Poland without Russia.”

Mr Lloyd George said there had been a campaign of detraction of Russian resources, capacity and leadership, and a reluctance to admit the changes that had occurred, militarily and industrially “Russia says she will come in on the same terms as France, with her whole of her tremendous forces, provided we do not make insulting distinctions,” said Mr Lloyd George. “War is now a fiftyfifty chance, and would be only ten to one against if the Government were courageous enough to join up with Russia. MR CHAMBERLAIN RETICENT. Speaking next Mr Chamberlain confessed he would prefer not to speak at this time of tension, anxiety and suspicion. Every word of his would be examined all over the world under a microscope. He emphasised the necessity of a long-term peace policy in which the colonial question would have to play a part. Britain, however, was not prepared to buy peace at the price of concessions leading to further demands, but this did not mean he would refuse to discuss any method of satisfying reasonable aspirations, even if it meant some adjustment of the status quo. Britain would not be backward in stating the lines on which to discuss the terms for permanent peace if it was certain that there would be no intention of aggression or of the further use of force in the relations between Germany and other countries. He would have to be certain that the concessions would not be used to bolsteiup some strategic aim against the liberties of others. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr C. R. Attlee, accused the Government of taking a narrow view of British interests. THE OFFER TO RUSSIA. Since Britain desired and sought collaboration- with all the countries concerned, she was anxious to avoid any division among them, said Mr Chamberlain. That consideration was whal prompted the character of the British suggestion to the Soviet that the Soviet should make a declaration regarding Poland and Rumania similar to the one made by Britain and France, but in such a form that if Britain and France should be involved in conflict in consequence of the undertakings which they had given those countries, the Soviet lor its part would be ready to render assistance also to Poland or Rumania, as the case might be, always provided, of course, that the assistance was desired. The Premier expressed himself mystified how it could be contended that the offer was not reciprocal, or how a misunderstanding could have arisen.

SIGNS OF DEADLOCK PUZZLEMENT IN BRITAIN. NO APPARENT REASON FOR HESITANCY. LONDON. May 19. The Anglo-Soviet negotiations are now believed to have reacned the following stage: Russia is insisting on a three-Power alliance, military staff talks and the fullest possible co-opera-tion. The latest British proposals, though an advance on earlier ideas, still reject the idea of a three-Power pact and suggest that Russia immediately guarantee Poland and Rumania, in return for which Britain proposed to “consult” Russia and France regarding means of defending Russia against attack resulting from her honouring her pledges to Poland and Rumania. Diplomatic correspondents and most London newspapers, except “The Times,” profess themselves unable to explain why Britain does not accept the Russian proposals in view of the serious position if Russia withdraws from the talks entirely. GERMAN COMMENT ACTION THAT WOULD BE WELCOMED. (Received This Dav, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. May 19. The Berlin correspondent of the Bri-

tish United Press says a semi-official spokesman said Germany would welcome any British action to secure the readjustments of which Mr Neville Chamberlain spoke in the House of Commons.