London, May 4.
M. Josef Stalin's decision to remove M. Maxim Litvinov from the Soviet Foreign Affairs Commissariat was a sudden one and was mainly due to the receipt of indications that Japan might eventually adopt "a les; aggressive policy towards the U.S.S.R. a British source possessing close contacts in Moscow revealed this evening. se indications was l to transform the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany ahd Italy into a military alliance, the same source declared Britain excluded the Far East it Anglo-Soviet parley:
Another factor greatly influencing M. f&nlin's decision was the prog: of "German negotiations with the Baltic States, aiming at the conclusion of non-aggression pacts which would practically cut off Russia from the Baltic. Also, M. Stalin was dissatisfied over delays incurred in Anglo-Soviet parleys and decided to speed up progress by placing Britain before the alternative: either to accept immediately an Anglo-Soviet alliance supplementing the existing Anglo-French entente, or else to see Russia enter steadfast isolation, the same source concluded.
M. Stalin believes that the Reichsfuehrer may now find it to his benefit to ensure Soviet neutrality as he cannot rely on Japan, Liberal M.P.s declared. Russia, for her part, is interested to come to terms with Herr Hitler if she cannot count on Anglo-French assistance in the Far East, they concluded.—Havgs. at
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.