Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1939 RUSSIA AND GERMANY GET TOGETHER.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1939 RUSSIA AND GERMANY GET TOGETHER.

AT its I’tice value, the announcement that Russia and Germany have reached a preliminary understanding regarding a 11011aooression pact conveys extremely serious news and can hardl.t betaken Io mean anything else than that hopes 01. establishing a European peace front with Russia as one 01. its supporting members have fallen finally to the ground. As reports stand at time of writing, announcements on the subject have been made both in Berlin and Moscow. Ihe German version is that: — The German and Soviet Governments have reached an understanding regarding the conclusion of a non-aggression pact and Herr von Ribbentrop will arrive in Moscow on August 23 (today) to conclude the negotiations. An official, message from Moscow is more non-committal.. It reads:—The Tass news agency announces that Herr von Ribbentrop will arrive in Moscow in a few days to negotiate a Russo-Geiman non-aggression pact. Even the situation as between Russia and Germany indicated in this guarded announcement is in somewhat staggering contrast to the months of negotiation without result in which Hie Western democracies and the Soviet Government have engaged. That the promoters of the Anti-Comintern Pact and the Comintern should join up, or should propose to do so, is an astonishing and profoundly disturbing development even in I hose days of international, turmoil and confusion. Vormallv there is a very great difference between a. 11011aowression pact and an active military alliance, but. it. would be°foolish not to recognise that a non-aggression pact with Russia would have for Germany much of the value ol a more positive alliance. In the absence of specific information it is not of much use speculating as to Hie nature and effect of the understanding which, according to Germany’s own account she has reached with Russia. It may be noted, however, that even if Russia demands guarantees of the integrity of territories outside her borders which might confer a measure of security on the Baltic States, Poland. Hungary and Rumania. ;t wide’field for predatory aggression would still, so far as Russia was concerned, be left open to Germany 111 Europe and perhaps in areas further afield. As information stands, however. the precise nature of the projected pact remains to be defined. One effect of the Russian and German announcements should be to impart imperative force to the demand for an immediate reassembly of the British Parliament. A meeting of Parliament forthwith appears to be necessary on account, of the serious outlook opened, and also in order that the British Government may have an opportunity of justifying its conduct of the negotiations with Russia. If the Government is to do that, it presumably must show that the conditions of agreement, laid down by Russia were such as Britain definitely could not accept. As to the nature of the negotiations between the democracies and Russia and the reasons for their unprofitable extension, there is at present an almost complete absence of information. It has appeared hitherto, however, that Russia was in broad agreement with the Western democracies in desiring to halt, further aggression by the Fascist Powers and that the inclusion of Russia in the peace front would have established conditions of security in Europe which could not well be established in any other way. The manifested aim of the totalitarian diclatoishi’ps has been to attack and subjugate their intended victims in detail. Apparently there could be no better or more hopeful method of defeating’ that aim. than by establishing a united combination of all nations desiring to maintain peace and a reign of law in Europe and in other parts ol: the world. That, failure to add Russia to its membership must seriously ■weaken the peace front is self-evident. Completely authentic and dependable information as to the military strength anil resources of the various Powers is not available, but. on ajiparently credible authority, Russia is credited with possessing the largest air force in the world, her armies are said to be as strong as those of France and Britain put together and she is possessed undoubtedly of an enormous “war potential,’’ in human and material resources, industries, etc. While Russia is little vulnerable to air attack, Berlin and Western Germany are well within the range of the Soviet air forces.

It is not clearer that Russian membership ol the peace front ■would strengthen it enormously, than that in the course she is now reported to be taking Russia will endanger her own future security. The ob\'iously sale and wise policy lor all European countrics desiring peace and security is one ol united action in defence of security. The loss ol Russia to the peace front must not only heighten greatly the immediate dangers of European war but must undermine the general foundations of security.

A TERRITORIAL ASSOCIATION.

21'JORE especially in a time like this, when war clouds are hanging low over the world, there should be every assurance of a satisfactorily large and representative attendance at the meeting called by the Mayor (Air T. Jordan) lor tomorrow evening, with Ihe object, of forming a Territorial .Association in Masterton. Young men are responding well to Ihe call to train for the defence of their country should the need arise and Ihe local Territorial units have already reached full strength. With that example before them, citizens of more advanced years should be very willing to do what they can in a practical way Io assist and encourage the Territorials,

Associations like that aboul io be formed in Masterton have nothing to do with contentious aspects ol policy. Their essential function is to act as an effective link between the citizen defence forces and the rest ol the community. The initial object sol before them is that of fostering respect for members of their local Territorial unit in particular and Hie Territorial Army generally. It is suggested that they may achieve that object by helping to maintain tin* local Territorial units at full strength, by assisting these units in social and recreational activities, by helping Territorials to obtain leave from their employment to attend camps and other military training, by maintaining personal contact with the Territorial units and in other ways. These are services in which all citizens able to do so should be very willing to take part. They limy thus render useful and acceptable aid to the Territorials and help materially to maintain the keen spirit by which Ihe members of I he units are animated.

It has been made clear that: then 1 is no reason why members of the Defence League should not be.members of a Territorial association. Indeed, those whose sense of duly and public spirit have induced them to join up with Ihe Defence Le;igiie are precisely the kind of people needed in Territorial associations. With the proviso that questions of policy art* outside the scope of activities of a Territorial association, it is entirely open to anv individual to be a member of one of these associations and also to be a member of the Defence League and Io work for the principal objective of that organisation—univers;ii mililarv training. Dodies like the Territorial associations will be needed and will be capable of serving an excellent purpose whether the present voluntary system is maintained or is superseded. At present there is the loss need to allow any diftieiiltv to arise over this question since it seems highly probable that in the event of a war emergency occurring, the question of universal service will largely solve and settle itself. 11. is certainly desirable that a strong Territorial Association should be formed in Mastertoil and that calls first and foremost for an attendance worthy of the occasion at tomorrow night’s meeting.