SOVIET & NAZIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1940, Page 6

SOVIET & NAZIS

STRONG PRO-GERMAN SPEECH BY MOLOTOV PACT STILL OPERATING. NEUTRALITY REAFFIRMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m.) MOSCOW. August 1. M. Molotov, addressing the Supreme Soviet Council, strongly reaffirmed Soviet neutrality and declared that Russia would not participate in the war. He added that the Russian-German pact still was operating and that all British efforts to weaken it had failed. Anglo-Russian relations had not materially changed in recent weeks. The Russo-German pact was not only economically significant, but also assured German security in the East. Recent events had improved Russian-German relations. Britain was relying on the assistance of the United States in continuing the war against Germany. After the British anti-Soviet tendencies, there could be little chance of improving Anglo-Russian relations, but the appointment of Sir Stafford Cripps possibly reflected a British desire to improve Anglo-Russian understanding. Russian-Italian relations were full of possibilities. WAR OUTLOOK BRITAIN’S ALLEGED AIM. MORE POINTS FROM MOLOTOV'S SPEECH. (Received This Day. 11 a.m.) MOSCOW. August 1. Mr Molotov said: “Britain docs not wish to give up her colonies and declares that she will continue the war for world supremacy, despite the fact that the defeat of France and Italy’s entry into the war involve considerably greater difficulties for Britain. “The future of Russian-Finnish relations will depend on Finland.” M Molotov warned certain circles in Finland to discontinue their attacks against those supporting friendly Rus-sian-Finnish relations. RussianTurkish relations were unchanged substantially, but the German White Book indicated that Turkey was engaged in anti-Soviet action. “I cannot say anything good on Rus-sian-American relations,” M Molotov continued. “The imperialist may spread tnc war to the Western hemisphere. The question of a redistribution of colonies may turn the war into a world conflagration. The end of the war is not is sight, but probably it is on the eve of a more Intensive phase.” Russian-Rumanian relations. M. Molotov said, henceforth should follow a perfectly normal course. Russia was expecting to sign a trade agreement with Sweden. Russia’s relations with the free Chinese Republics were “of the best.” An improvement in relations with Japan was possible, but the new Japanese Government's foreign policy was not very clear. The incorporation of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Northern Bukovina had increased the Russian population by 10 millions.