The Western Mail, April 11th, 1933

SOVIET READY FOR WAR

ACTIVE MILITARY PREPARATIONS

Why She Will Never Attack Another Country

ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE LEAGUE

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By Mr. GARETH JONES

 The foreign policy of the Soviet Union is emphatically one of peace.  If there is any stable factor in this ever-changing world of ours, it is the fact that Russia will never attack.  Russia will never attack because her internal position is too weak.  An army cannot fight without bread, and although the Soviet Government has good reserves for the Army, it is not enough to enable it to embark on a big military campaign. 

Russia will not attack because the peasants would either rise or would refuse to deliver grain.  A war would place weapons in the hands of the population and would mean the overthrow of the régime.  Russia will not attack because throughout her territory there are national minorities waiting for the war-drums to beat in order to gain their independence.  In the Ukraine, the Home Rule movement is ever growing and the Ukrainians hate the Great Russians with increasing bitterness. 

    Russification 

The policy of Russification which the soviet Government began about two months ago will increase the rebellious feelings of the Ukraine and will weaken Russia’s military strength.  

In Georgia the nationalists are increasing their strength and there are many underground plots to overthrow the Soviet régime.  In Central Asia national movements are ever strong and have been fanned by Moscow’s tolerant policy of encouraging native languages and literature.  These minorities are waiting for war in order to rise.  Thus Moscow will avoid foreign conflicts. 

Russia will not attack because her transport is too disorganised to send troops across long distances.  This fact explains the forbearance of Russia in the Manchurian dispute. 

Fear of War 

Fear of war explains Soviet Russia’s policy.  Lenin prophesied that the capitalist nations would launch an attack on the Soviet Union.  To prevent this Russia has sought friendship with all the nations on her borders.  She refuses to belong to any group of nations for fear she will be dragged into a conflict.  She refuses to make any alliance for the same reason.  Thus she has offered and has signed Pacts of Non-Aggression with a number of countries, including Poland and France.  There has recently been a rapprochement between the Soviet Union and France. 

One nation refused to sign a Pact of Non-Aggression with Russia and that nation was Japan.  This refusal has led many Soviet observers to fear that Japan is planning to attack Russia. 

Attitude to the League 

The Soviet Union dislikes the League of Nations because it is a capitalist organisation and because it has many members which do not recognise Moscow, but it has co-operated energetically at Geneva on the question of disarmament.  The Soviet Union has recently hoped that the United States would give it diplomatic recognition.  But these hopes have been dimmed since the arrest of the British engineers, and now it is not probable that America will send an Ambassador to Moscow.  Close relations between the United States and Russia are, however, not out of the question because both countries are united by fear of Japanese expansion. 

Spread of Militarism 

In spite of the Soviet Union’s desire for peace, there has been a great spread of militarism in that country.  Flamboyant posters show the need for defence.  Children in school are given gas-mask demonstrations and are taught how to shoot.  In a village at least a thousand miles from the nearest frontier I was informed that the peasants had been taught how to use gas-masks.  The Society for Aviation and Chemical Defence is a flourishing organisation, with twelve million members spreading its influence throughout the factories and offering training ground for those about to join the Army.  Military aviation has made great strides in Russia.  Great stress is laid upon the Army and upon munitions factories. 

The policy of Russia is, therefore, a paradox - it combines great desire for peace with energetic preparation for war.

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