STALIN HOLDS COURT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1939, Page 5

STALIN HOLDS COURT

WHILE THE WORLD WAITS

HITLER'S SUPPOSED PLANS.

CS6L STRONG BID FOR PEACE.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (.Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, September 28. The world again waits while M Stalin holds court at the Kremlin, but this time realising that the outcome is certain to profoundly affect the course of the war and

Europe’s future. What Herr von Ribbentrop is discussing is unknown, but it seems certain that once agreement has been reached Herr Hitler will launch a" peace offensive with full force. The German view is that the war ended with the capitulation of Warsaw and that the onus is now on Britain and France to decide whether hostilities will be resumed on a greater scale. The French Press voices the opinion that Herr Hitler will be forced to pay exceedingly dearly to obtain a final settlement with the Soviet Government regarding delimitation of the Polish frontier.. The Russians are already advancing along the Vistula to the most advantageous frontier, but Herr Hitler apparently is resigned to accept this setback provided he is enabled to manoeuvre into a suitable diplomatic position from which to tackle the Democracies over the question of peace. It is expected that Herr Hitler’s argument will be the same as Signor Mussolini's— namely, that the war has not yet begun on the Western front, but there would be no question of restoring Poland and liberating Czechoslovakia and Austria., Herr Hitler stands to lose great influence in the Baltic, for which reason he is fighting hard to limit his retreat before the Bolshevik penetration. TALKS CONTINUE RIBBENTROP NOT HAVING SMOOTH PASSAGE. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 28. _ A British United Press Association's Moscow correspondent says Herr von Ribbentrop resumed talks at the Krem-

lin in the afternoon, which lasted two and a half hours. It is hinted that Herr von Ribbentrop is not having altogether a smooth passage. Russia, it is reported, seeks to hold the balance of power as between Europe and Asia and seeks to remove the vulnerability of Leningrad by extending her control in the Gulf of Finland.