Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-08-22 | Page 5 | German-Russ Pact Held Supreme Coup

r German Russ Pact Held Supreme Coup By WEBB MILLER l LONDON Aug 22 UP-An- UP UP An Announcement noun cement that Germany and Russia had agreed to negotiate a pact threatened Great Britain and France today with what would be their gravest I diplomatic defeat since the World war It U meant likewise that Adolf Hitler was near a great victory in Europe's long war ar of nerves As far as can can be foreseen now the pact would leave the chances of pf a European war unchanged al although although although al- al though it might bring nearer a s-preme s crisis by emboldening Hitler Hitler Hitler Hit Hit- ler when he sees the confusion of the French British-French bloc Implications of the pact envisaged envisaged envisaged aged by Germany and Russia remained remained re re- obscure But Hitler's lightning diplomatic stroke threatened to smash smash the that French British-French peace bloc policy which the Germans call encircle encircle- ment mente Never since the sudden Russian Russian- German pact at the c conference coh con con- n- n ference In the years immediately ly after the World war had diplo a diplomatic matic coup thrown European chancelleries chancelleries chan chan- into such confusion Political cat commentators used us used d such terms as astounding sensa sensational sense sense- staggering incredible in in- in conceivable Telephonic conversations I had this morning with United Press bureau managers in continental capitals reveal a general eU belief f that Hitler may may seize the opportunity opportunity opportunity within the next few days In the thee midst of diplomatic matic confusion c confusion sion slon to make whatever move he intends against Danzig and the Polish corridor Along with Hitler R Russia's Josef Stalin also had achieved a a big diplomatic diplomatic diplomatic dip dip- victory While Chamberlain was using Russia in negotiations to bring pressure upon Hitler Russia astutely used Britain to make malce terms with Germany The threat of ofa a Russian-German Russian pact was a humiliating blow to Great Britain and France because f for r one thing diplomats saw it as s exposing the hollowness of their pledge to protect prote t Poland As the diplomats saw it Poland In Inthe the present circumstances probably probably ably would be overrun in any attack attack attack at at- tack by Germany before Britain and France could make any d de decisive decisive de- de contribution It was regarded regard d here as as' as likely that Great Britain and France could still conclude a pact with Russia If they knuckled down and fully met Russia's terms Conclusion of a Russian German-Russian pact would make mak it impossible as it was seen here here- for Japan to join the Rome Rome Berlin Berlin axis in a military alliance because Russia is Japans Japan's greatest potential enemy and Japan could not ally herself with th the nazis if Ge Germany any were unable to help her A Russian-German Russian pact would have important repercussions In British domestic politics Liberals laborites and Churchil- Churchil lian llan conservatives cons have repeatedly warned Neville Chamberlain of the possibility of a Russi Russian Ger n-Ger- n man rapprochement unless he quit trying wh what what they they called his efforts to dupe the Russians On the other hand such a pact would provide pro ammunition for those conservatives who have asI asserted asserted as as- s r ed continually that Russia I would only Britain in any event Even the laborite D Daily Herald stresses the he theme heme and tails galls the prop proposed sed p pact ct a bigger betrayal of peace and European freedom even than Munich