FULL AGREEMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1942, Page 3

FULL AGREEMENT

ON OPENING SECOND FRONT THIS YEAR STATEMENT BY M. MOLOTOV. ALLIED OFFENSIVE PLANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! LONDON, June 19. In a statement to the Supreme Soviet' M. Molotov said the question of a second front had been carefully considered in both London and 'Washington and complete agreement had been reached regarding its formation in 1942. “The importance of this to the Soviet Union is self-evident,” he said. “It will create an insurmountable obstacle for Hitler. It is difficult to get supplies through because of German submarine raiders and aircraft. Some cargoes have gone down en route to Murmansk and Archangel. Nevertheless supplies from Britain and the United States of America are arriving in increasing quantities.” The Australian Associated Press learns on the highest authority that the discussions between Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt are probably concerned with a great offensive against the Axis, most likely against Germany this yfiar. Whereas the last meeting of Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt was mainly to organise the defensive till sufficient arms could be produced, the present meeting is almost certainly designed for an offensive. This assumption is supported by the following factors: First, the enormously increased United States production of war material; secondly, the recently gained Allied air superiority in Europe and the Pacific; thirdly, the growing unrest in Europe gives the Allies a wider choice of where- to hit; fourthly, the growing shortage of oil, food and transportation in Germany encourages an attack against Germany; fifthly, the advisability of distracting the German strength from the Russian front in compliance with M. Molotov’s recent requests.