Evening star., 1939-09-30
Red-Nuzi BIuckmuiI

marching European war advanced
with seven-league boots during the
past twenty-four hours. Once again
Germany and Russia play the major
roles; once again the true inwardness
of their Vaccinations defies imme-
diate analysis. Even though the So
Wet Unions dictated bargain with
Estonia and the new Russo-German
agreement are manifestly develop
ments Of the first magnitude, their
full significance momentarily re-
mains undiSclosed and battles inter-
probation. On their face, both pacts
are distinctly ominous from the
Anglo-French standpoint. They may
seriously and suddenly affect the
whole diplomatic and military situa-
tion.
OF paramount Importance Is the
devious deal at Moscow, whereby
the Reich and the Soviet definitely
pronounce the doom of Poland and
proclaim that ut is in the interest
of all nations to bring to an end the
state Of war presently existing be-
tween Germany on the one side and
Britain and France on the other"
Through the "disintegration of the
Polish state" the high contracting
parties profess to have established
a secure foundation for permanent
peace in Eastern Europe" Then fol-
lows a treaty passage widely inter-
preted as amounting to a Nazi-Red
military alliance to fight together
henceforth, II the British and French
"are responsible for continuation of
the war" In that case, Germany
and the U. S. S. R. will consult each
other as to necessary measures"
After certifying the revised line of
demarcation which defines that West
Poland and East Poland, respectively,
are noVirrevocably German and Rus
sian territory, and pledging friendly
relations" between the new neigh
boring Nazi and Communist peoples,
the pact provides for an economic
program" whereby the Soviet Union
Will provide raw materials to Ger
many. For these the latter will COM
pensate with industrial products ito
be delivered over an extended period"
Thus, it would appear, Molotoff and
Ribbentrop, in a single undertaking,
have laid wide and deep the founda-
tions Of Russo-German cooperation
In the military field, as we'll as in the
supplementary and hardly less vital
economic domain, though Stains
actual ability to supply foodstuffs
and raw material is highly problem
atical.
This latest Stalin-Hitler arrange
ment is transparent lend the war"
maneuver. It is designed to trick,
cajole or frighten the western powers
Into making peace on Russo German
terms, i.e., unconditional acknowl-
edgment of Poland's destruction and
partition. Allied reaction to the
Moscow-Berl move is what was to
be expected. The British and French
governments look upon it primarily
as Russian "veiled threat" to enter
the European war unless the black
mailing peace proposal is accepted.
AS acceptance would be tanta-
mount to the automatic abdication
of Great Britain and France as first
class powers and to the elevation of
Hitler and Stain as masters of Eu-
rope, it is a foregone conclusion that
the Allies do not remotely dream of
walking into so palpable trap. Even
in the unthinkable contingency that
their respective governments might
be tempted to listen to the siren song,
the British and French peoples are
in no mood for another Munich.
The Soviet treaty with the little
Baltic state of Estonia, which bears
every appearance of having been
brutally forced upon the Tallinn
government, re-establishes Russia as
a Baltic power and advances the
bears tracks another $50 miles into
Western Europe. Estonia agrees to
grant the U. s. S. R. air and naval
bases on the islands of Oesel and
Dagoe, a naval station at Baltic Port,
and the right to keep a standing Red
Army of 25,000 on Estonian territory.
All this means, of course, that the
northernmost of the three Baltic
republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lith-
uania now passes under Moscow's
domination. It means that Com
munist influence is pushed close to
the shores Of Finland and menaces
even those Of the Scandinavian
peninsula across the Gulf Of Bothnia
Sweden, in particular.
1t may be wondered whether Hitler
views with equanimity the ability
which now is Stalin's, to control the
sea lanes through which Germany's
all-essential supplies of Swedish iron
ore are borne. And one may also
question whether, If Russo German
consultations" over a rejected peace
offer should lead to Nazi-Red mill
!