Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1939. RUSSIA AS AGGRESSOR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1939. RUSSIA AS AGGRESSOR.

WITH Russia engaged in aggression in Finland and more oi V less definitely threatening to take similar action in he Balkans and elsewhere, prospects are being- opene up Inc h stand in remarkable contrast to those anticipated not xeiy many months ago, when it was still hoped that Russia might be enrolled as a member of the European peace bloc. H evidently does not brighten the world outlook that a and powerful country which professed to stand or peace am which, during the last ten years or more, strong support, through its representatives on the Lea„ue Nations, to the principle and policy of collective seeuritj* ho, . l ’d have turned at short notice to methods ol aggressi. ?n trampling on the rights of little nations. There are some grounds, however, for believing that Russia will be less lot inidable as an enemy of international justice than she might have been as one of its defenders and upholders. Evidence has come and is coming from many quarters of the extent to which the invasion of Finland has united world opinion against the Soviet Government, and it m <ay be doubled, too, whether the policy adopted of late by M. Stalin and his lieutenants can be pursued indefinitely without breaking up m serious dissensions whatever measure of internal unity the Soviet. Union has achieved. For the lime being, however, the power oi the Soviet dictatorship is unchallenged and in the extent to which it is left free to develop a policy of unscrupulous aggression, the prospect opened up evidently is that of an enlargement and extension of the war which may make heavy new demands upon the resources of the Allies. Apart from what she is now doing in Finland. Russia undoubtedly is in a position, as an aggressor. 1o stir up a great deal of mischief in the Balkans and in territories further east. Russian forces are posted already on lhe frontiers of Hungary and Rumania and a number ol strategic railways have been built in the Soviet trans-Caucasian and Turkestan provinces. It has been said that Russia could employ military pressure from Iran to the borderlands ol India. Much as the Soviet is now emulating the methods and tactics of Nazi Germany, it remains difficult to see any grounds on which these parties can enter into a firm alliance. In flic extent to which it has meantime developed, their partnership is extremely one-sided. The position indicated is that Nazi Germany has escaped from the necessity of fighting Russia by accepting, in Poland, the Baltic and elsewhere. Hie consequences of heavy defeat at the hands ol Russia. On tlull account and on other grounds, the possibilities of a military alliance between Russia and Germany appear to be definitely limited. The Soviet is possessed of a great army and air force, said numerically to outclass those of any other Power. Tremendous difficulties' of transport, and organisation would have to be overcome, however, in the employment ol any consideiable force of Russians against the Allies on the Western trout, even if Germany were willing io accept, and Russia to gi\e help on these lines. It seems in tact highly improbable that either party would be willing to enter, into an arrangement of the kind. Accepting direct military aid from Russia on the Western Front, or even the assistance of Soviet air squadrons, the dictatorship which very recently was pledged Io the root and branch extirpation of Communism would go far towards placing itself at Russia’s mercy. Russian aggression in lhe Balkans also would run directly counter to Nazi aspirations and schemes ol eastward expansion. Should the Hitler Government nevertheless decide that the partnership with the Soviet must continue even in these conditions, one effect probably would he to destroy the RomeBerlin Axis as completely as the Anti-Cominiern Paet has already been destroyed. The dquge'r of early Russian aggression against Rumania and Turkey, however, no doubt is real and may soon create new and serious problems for the Allies. Much must depend initially upon the ability and willingness of the Balkan countries to compose or set aside their territorial and other disputes in the interests of their common security. A French publicist of standing who has lately been in touch with lhe heads of the several Balkan Slates was reported in one of Saturday's cablegrams as stating that “the Balkans are beginning to see lhe necessity for sacrifices to attain solidarity anil are watching closely any movement towards a regional or European I'edera lion.’’ It would be somewhat optimistic, however, to regard the outlook in lhe Balkans and in areas further east as anything else than critical and as raising the possibility that new war burdens and responsibilities may be imposed on the Allies