The interview which British and French diplomatic representatives had with Foreign Commissar Molotov on Sunday at the Kremlin is of rather more importance than would appear superficially, and to some extent may be regarded as a hopeful sign. There can be little doubt that the slowness with which these negotiations for the creation of a tripartite mutual defence pact has progressed has created not a little anxiety, anxiety which will persist until the conversations are brought to a conclusion, whether successful or not. Reports of Germany desirous of coming to an economic agreement with Russia have been current for some time, while it has also been stated that there is a considerable school of German political thought which would favour the two tountries entering into a military alliance. The latter, however, had not been able to make much headway chiefly because of the stern opposition of Herr Hitler to any such policy, and the realization that such a move would have the effect of destroying the Anti-Comintern Pact, and the consequent loosening of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis. Indeed it would amount to such a complete reversal of policy that it is difficult to see how the three Powers could possibly hold together afterwards. Nevertheless sensational and false reports were circulating to the effect that a German military mission was to visit Moscow or that Herr Franz von Papen was to*go there for some purpose not disclosed. The Anglo-French-Soviet conversation of Sunday was calculated to dispel any wrong impressions resulting from these erroneous reports, and the statement issued afterwards to the effect that the negotiations were proceeding normally, and that there were no grounds for pessimism should certainly have that result. It was further denied that the announcement of the resumption of German-Soviet trade parleys was made for the purpose of bringing pressure to.bear upon the western democracies, and, while this may indeed be the case, it cannot be overlooked that these negotiations are an important factor in the general situation.
Looking back over the months of negotiation which have already elapsed it is more apparent now than earlier that the difficulties which had to be surmounted were important, and impressive. The contributions, which the three Powers could make to any system of mutual defence, are so different that there is every reason to believe that reconciliation of their views would at no time be an easy matter, There was the question of extending guarantees to states which did not want them, and would resent them being extended. There was the Russian view to be taken into consideration as to what would amount to indirect aggression against herself in the Baltic States and the common resistance which she expected from the parties to the proposed alliance. There was the British and French view that if such guarantees were to be given to the Baltic States similar procedure should be adopted with regard to such countries as Belgium, Holland and Switzerland, who in turn desired none of them, and regarded such an extension in their case as possibly militating against their traditional neutrality, and, of course, there was the reluctance of Moscow to go quite so far, especially when one of the countries concerned did not even grant her diplomatic recognition. Reconciliation of such a very complete conflict of ideas could at no time be easy, more especially as it was Russia which was being courted, and not the other two Powers, and it may be assumed from the fact that the negotiations are still proceeding that at any rate sufficient progress has been made to justify the belief that it is still worth while continuing them. It is for that reason that it is urged that there are no real grounds at present existing for indulgence in pessimism, and it has to be confessed that on the face of things that contention is amply justified.
It is not the case that Britain and France are without talking points in these negotiations. Russia is flanked east and west by two ideological enemies, and while it is not suggested that Britain and France would be prepared to extend the scope of the proposed military alliance to the Far East as well as Europe, it is obvious that, with the protection such an understanding would give Russia in Europe, her position would be correspondingly improved in the Far East. That is an important aspect of the whole matter, for while the Soviet Government has expressed the greatest confidence in being able to deal with any menace either in the Far East or Europe, the fact that a military alliance would reduce the possibilities of offence on her western front is something of very considerable value to her. Probably one of the greatest obstacles to an earlier agreement was the amount of distrust felt on all sides at the commencement of the negotiations. It is hoped that much of that has now been dissipated, but that it did exist has been apparent all along, and has been responsible for many of the difficulties encountered. Its removal has not been easy. So much had happened in the past that the creation of a better atmosphere of mutual understanding was necessary before much progress could be made. It is now believed that there has been a considerable improvement owing to the removal of many causes for misunderstanding and irritation which it is apparent had to be achieved before any great headway could be made. That these negotiations have not been wholly profitless can be assumed from the very fact that they are being continued. Undoubtedly Germany would like to throw a monkey wrench into the whole proceedings, and there is evidence that attempts to do so have been made, but as it has already been pointed out to do this effectively Germany would have to abandon very much of the policy she has consistently adopted against Russia, and completely to thwart Anglo-French endeavours to come to an understanding with Russia would mean that Germany would herself have to strike a fatal blow to the anti-Comintern structure she has been busily erecting. For this reason it is to be believed that time is not so great a factor as it was originally thought, and that even if now progress is slow it does not justify the abandonment of hope as to the outcome.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.