AFTER THE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 3

AFTER THE WAR

RUSSIAN AIMS CZECHOSLOVAKIA'S HKONIItHS. GUARANTEE GIVEN BY SOVIET. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, February 22. The London correspondent of the “New York Times,” Carl Sulzberger, reports that reliable Allied sources have learned that the Soviet Union has given a guarantee to the Czechoslovak Government in London that it would support a reconstitution of Czechoslovakia’s pre-Munich frontiers. This is taken to mean that the Soviet is serving notice that it is not interested in acquiring Ruthenia, and it also gives a clue to Moscow’s post-war intentions, says the correspondent. “There has been a deal of unhealthy speculation on the possibility of Stalin backing up by a victorious Red Army, seeking to acquire vast new territories, and the commitment on Czechoslovakia is concrete evidence supporting the diplomats who believe that the Soviet, while insisting upon the establishment of strategically safe borders after the war, is not interested in further expansion in central Europe, Mr Sulzbergei’ says. “It appears emphatically to contradict alarmist fears which the Axis propaganda has incited that the Soviet would like to intrude beyond the Carpathians and control the central Danubian Valley.’ A Note from the Yugoslav Government has been received by the Czech Government stating that Yugoslavia, following the example of Britain, considers the Munich agreement and all subsequent territorial charges affecting Czechoslovakia as non-existent. A similar statement was made recently by the Fighting French.