The Daily Alaska empire., 1939-10-16
Words and Deeds
Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Cleveland Plain Dealer)
 The actions of Russia do not tally with her words in the game of power politics, whereby the map of central Europe from the Baltic to the Balkans is being redrawn to the dictators design.
 Russia's territorial advances have been aimed against Germany fundamentally. They have blocked Germany's road to the lebensraum' of the east. Moscows promises of military aid to the Naz regime unless the allies stop the war the other hand, give rise to the fear that these two may cooperate to terminate free government throughout Europe. But if deeds than words indication of in- tention then some relative comfort may be drawn from the turn of events
 There is no denying that through the efforts in Moscow of Nazi Minister Ribbentrop, Russia and Germany have come closer together. The proposals for trade agreement whereby Germany would have unlimited access over long period to Russian raw materials in return for German manufactured goods go far beyond the trade pact signed in August. It will be of vital importance to Germany in combating the British naval blockade.
 The two agree also on the partitoning of Poland Russia retreats eastward 130 miles from the line originally laid down in central Poland This partition is called final When Russia was seeking desperately for Hitleresque excuses for invading Poland Mootoff explicitly promised independent state for the Polish nation. That promise is now broken.
 The trade arrangement and the division of Poland were to be expected. They are now committed to paper. But the threat which accompanied these de- csions is found only in broadcast statement from Moscow. Poland is the business of Russia and Ger many alone it says in effect The Ango-French entente should call off it's in the west and aban- don its hope of re-establshing Poland and of throwing the Nazi regime. Otherwise. according to this account Moscow will take steps to aid Germany to crush the west
 These words, on close analysis do not bear out their horrific sound Russia is not engaged in this muddle to strengthen Germany Her aim is to secure her own position and spread world revolution It is extremely unlikely that Russian troops would be sent thousands of miles to die in front of the Magnot Line in order that Germany might triumph. If Russian forces enter the Reich aim surely will be to spread Communist doctrine, was done after the Treaty of Bfest Litovsk signed in 1917
 This threat is most likely sop to Germany It probably was wrung from the Russians on the be- seechmg of von Ribbentrop and to be effort to bolster the peace offensive which Germany plans
 The formality of peace overtures may go forward. Mussolini may be brought to the front as mediator But the effort doomed to failure. Under such con- dltlons cessation of hostilities would be the worst kind of defeat for the west for it would leave the dc- tatorships intact and unimpaired in a position to strengthen themselves for final thrust against the west.
 Britain and France had no choice but to snub this unofficial threat. They becoming accustomed to bluster. They see Russia moving against Germany into the Balkans into Estonia and the Baltic and they realize that such actions are a better guide to policy than ultimatums