Evening star., 1940-04-02
The Beers Claws

contingencies in the international
situation which justify great power
like Soviet Russia In augmenting her
war machine. Yesterday the Su-
preme Soviet, or what passes for
national Parliament in the Stain
autocracy, debated a government
proposal to increase the military
budget for 1910 to the record total of
57,00O,0O0,000 rubles, which is a 38
per cent increase over 1899 outlay and
represents 31.7 per cent of expendi-
ture for all government purposes.
In introducing the budget, Finance
Commissar Zvereff supplied no de-
tailed reasons for asking peak mill
tary appropriations, but these are
the things which obviously inspire
them:
/. Demonstrated shortcomings
OF the Red Army in the Finnish
campaign and its heavy losses in
materiel.
2. Creation of the new Kare-
liam Finnish Socialist Republic
requiring new garrison.
3. Acquisition of Eastern Po-
land, necessitating an army of
occupation.
4. Possibility that Russia may
have to meet an Anglo-French-
Turkish thrust in Southeastern
Europe, for the purpose of out
hanking Germany and cutting of
her oil supplies from the Cau-
caSuS
5. An attempt to recover Bessa-
rabla from Rumania by force, re-
sulting in hostilities with the
western powers which have guar
anteed the integrity of the central
Balkan country on whose oil and
grain supplies Germany Is casting
covetouS eyes.
Addressing the Supreme Soviet
last week, Premier Molotoff strongly
indicated that while the Soviet
Unions friendship for Germany Is
firmly rooted, Russia intends to "pur-
sue its own independent policy" and
not be embroiled in the war among
the "capitalistic" nations in Western
Europe. He particularly mentioned
the possibility of trouble in the
Southeast.
There may be yet another reason
why Stain has determined to
strengthen his military machine.
His plans synchronize with the an
nouncement that the allies are de-
termined to tighten the blockade
against Germany and extend con-
traband control to the Pacific. While
trade between the United States and
Germany has declined since last
September, commerce with Russia
and neutrals bordering the Reich
has vastly increased. Russia, for ex-
ample, has spent about $10,0O0,000 a
month here for armament rawstuffs
like copper, lead, tin, ALLY steels
and Woodworking machinery, most
Of which is designed for manufac-
ture of armaments and airplane
parts. Thousands of tons of copper
and brass have been shipped directly
from this country to Russia across
the Pacific to Vladivostok.
Still larger quantities of metal are
sold to Russian traders and shipped
from American ports to Mexican
harbors for reshipment aboard Rus
sian vessels. The British are con-
vinced that the lions share of these
extraordinary Soviet purchases OF
our raw materials eventually finds
its way to Germany. It was only last
Saturday that Mr.. Churchill de-
clared it is "ludicrous" for Britain to
permit the neutral neighbors Of Ger
many to continue to supply her with
indispensable sinews of war.
Despite Molotoff's pacific assur-
ances there cannot be left out Of
account the possibility that the Hit
ler-Stalin deal comprehends secret
military alliance and that Russia is
expanding the Red Army to meet
eventual Soviet obligations, to say
nothing Of aggressive new ventures
which the Red imperialism may be
plotting in Northern Europe.