Nov. 1.
What M, Molotov, Soviet Foreign Commissar, will have had to say on the subject of Russo-German relations, and the question of peace will be known by the time these lines appear in print. There appears to be general idea that his speech will contain something in the nature of a demarche demanding that the Allies should come to terms with Herr Hitler, of course on the basis that the latter should be allowed to retain his ill-gotten spoils. To that there can still be only one answer, one which was given by Demosthenes in reply to the denun= dation by Philip of Macedonia of the treaty between that country and states in alliance with Athens If it is open to us to be at peace and the matter reste with us—at peace let us be say..... But if someone comes with sword in hand at the head of a great force, and while dangling the name of Peace in front of you, makes war on you in deed—what is left but to resist him? Call this a peace. by all means fas he does, but only a lunatic can believe it to be peace; when he can seize what he chooses and later march against you. The peace which Philip means is peace on your side towards him but not on his side towards you. That is Philip's bargain—for him to make war on you" without your making war on hin No passage written or spoken today can with greater appositeness be quoted to describe the position of Herr Hitler vis-A-vis of the Alies, and any peace which he desires, any peace in favour of which Moscow may raise. its voice, cannot but be peace on the Allied side towards him, but none on his part towards them. It can be no portion of the Allies' policy to acquiesce in what Herr Hitler has done despite their warnings, allow him a period in which to consolidate his position in the territories which he has seized, and then wait for that moment which he would deem propitious for another onslaught, if not upon the Allies, at least upon some neighbouring country upon which he has set his covetous eyes. Nothing up to the present has occurred to modify the determination which has been expressed in London and Paris that these continual threats to the peace and security of Europe shall be put an end to, and until that is done all talk of peace is futile, There can be no mistake about it} any peace by agreement at this stage on Herr Hitler's terms can be nothing but an incitement to both Germany and Russia to engage in further incursions into the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.