Evening star., 1939-09-29
Reich-Soviet Pact
Believed Cue
For Duce
(TeTt OF German nefDs agencys
communiQue on page AS


communique on page A-5)
BY the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Sept. 29-The division of
Poland between Germany and So
Wet Russia completed, the two
powers confronted Britain and
France with peace overtures backed
by threat they would consult each
other as to necessary measures" un-
less the western powers agreed to
end hostilities.
Adolf Hitler's axis partner, Pre-
mier Mussolini, appeared chosen for
the role of "peacemaker" in the
opinion of informed quarters. These
sources pointed out that Italy ranks
first among the friendly powers
mentioned in the German-Russian
accord.
Un Rome hope was expressed
that the German-Russian over
ture would lead to peace, but it
was said that Italy would take no
formal initiative unless requested
to do soD
The accord, which partitions Po-
land for the fourth time, dividing
the conquered land almost equally
between the two powers, pledges
them to seek together peace on their
own terms and provides for closer
economic ties, was signed in Mos
COW last night.
Reich Gets Larger Area.
The new German-Russian border
gives Germany more territory than
the recent line of military occupa-
ton, making the River Bug the
chief element of the boundary.
Announcement Of the accord par
titioning Poland came exactly a
year after the fateful agreement of
Munich, which began the partition
ing of another Eastern European
state born of the World War, Czecho-
Slovakia.
Italy, Britain and France were
Germany's co-signatories at Munich;
Russia was excluded
The military mopping up in Po-
land was nearly completed, but the
German high command announced
that the actual entry of Nazi troops
into surrendered Warsaw probably
would not begin until October 2. The
Polish troops, disarmed, will begin to
march out tonight, it was an
nounced, but two or three days are
needed to arrange details of the
turnover.
Way Prepared for Mussolini.
The way for Mussolini's entrance
into the situation has been pre-
pared steadily since II Duce's speech
last week end through inspired
NaZi press comment from ofiicial
quarters.
At the same time, government
sources declined to venture into dis
cussion of what was hailed here as
world historic agreement with
the Soviet Union"
They said the negotiations be-
tween German Foreign Minister
Joachim Won Ribbentrop, Joseph
Stain and Soviet Premier Foreign
Commissar Vyacheslaff Molotoff
proceeded with such speed and
burst upon the world so suddenly
that it was "foolhardy" to venture
to discuss methods by which the
far-reaching German-Soviet accord
would be carried out.
Let the communique speak for
itself" they said, land await de-
velopments."
Accord Does Three Things.
The new Moscow accord, as re-
ported by the official German
agency, DNB, accomplished these
things:
Put Germany and Russia side by
side in urging France and Britain
to end the war and, if they refuse.
in cooperating to restore peace;
Established a mutual German
Russian frontier in conquered Po-
land, wiping that country from
Europe's map;
Pledged Germany and Russia to
work out an economic program so
that "the volume of German-Soviet
exchange of goods will again attain
a high peak"
Some foreign observers believed
Japan might play a role in the
effort to bring peace, pointing out
the Japanese Ambassador in Mos
cow, Shigenori Togo, wasted no time
today in conferring with Soviet
authorities.
Condition for Peace.
One important condition for peace
was laid down-recognition of the
partition of Poland and the new
status in Eastern Europe.
The Russian boundary in
Poland, it was pointed out, followed
as nearly as possible ethnological
lines instead of an arbitrary split
ting OF territory such as a military
demarcation.
Informed quarters said this would
enable the Nazis-if they desire-to
organize a Polish area as pro-
tectorate along the lines of Bohemia
and Moravia.
Sections which belonged to Ger
(Cao pCpT TNI 49,