PERFECT ACCORD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 6

PERFECT ACCORD

BETWEEN SOVIET & NAZIS ACCORDING TO MOLOTOV. COMMENTS ON THE FRENCH COLLAPSE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 1. In his address to the Supreme Soviet Council, M. Molotov reviewed, the German military operations culminating in the overthrow of France and added that although France had obtained an armistice she had not yet obtained peace. Bad military preparedness was clearly not the only cause of Fiances exceptional weakness. Considerably important also was the fact that leading circles in France, unlike those in Germany, had treated too lightly the role and weight of the Soviet in European affairs. Recent events had demonstrated even more than that. They had shown that the ruling circles in France were not connected with the people. Far from relying on their support, these leaders feared their people, who were deservedly famed as lovers of liberty France was now confronted with the difficult task of healing her wounds, a task which could not be realised by old methods. The British Government had interpreted Hitler's peace appeal on July 19 as a demand for Britain's capitulation and had replied that it was continuing the war until victory had been achieved. Russian-German relations would remain wholly as laid down in the Russian-German agreement. The Soviet had strictly observed the agreement which had removed the possibility of Russian-German friction when Soviet measures were carried out along the western frontiers of Russia and simultaneously had assured Germany of security in Eastern Europe. Far from reducing the strength of the Rus-sian-German Non-Aggression Pact, European developments had emphasised the importance of its existence, and further development. “The foreign Press, particularly the British and Anglophile Press, lately have frequently speculated on the possibility of Russian-German disagreements, attempting to intimidate us by the prospect of Germany's might.” said M. Molotov. “We ourselves and Germany had exposed these attempts and swept them aside as worthless. We reiterate the opinion that Russian and Germany’s good neighbourly and friendly relations are not based on fortuitous and transient considerations, but on the fundamental interests of both countries.” RELATIONS WITH ITALY. M. Molotov said it was noteworthy that Russian and Italian relations lately had improved. An exchange of views had revealed every possibility of Russia and Italy reaching a mutual understanding in foreign policy, also extending to trade relations. “The transfer of the Soviet frontiers to the Baltic coast is a fact of primary importance to our country,” said M. Molotov. “We henceforth possess ice free ports in the Baltic, of which we have great need.”