NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE conversations that are taking place in Moscow as these lines are written may affect the whole future of the war and the whole face of Eastern Europe. It is idle to predict their outcome. No one knows what understandings exist between Berlin and Moscow, but it is clear from von Ribbentrop's hurried journey that they do not meet the needs of the present situation. To all appearance every card is in Russia's hands. Germany has enabled her to secure more than half Poland without a battle, and her success there has given her a predominant position in relation to the Balkans. That, however, seems not to be enough to satisfy Stalin's new imperialist appetite. The veiled threats and manu- factured grievances against Estonia suggest that Russia intends to dominate, if not to obliterate, one at least of the three small Baltic republics. The Moscow decisions may assume an aspect adverse to the Allies, and a Russo-German military alliance is one of the possibilities, though it is not easy to see what practical effect that would have unless, which is very unlikely, Russia were prepared to send troops to the Western front or, which is still more unlikely, Turkey were to break her agreements with us and join in Russian naval action in the Mediterranean. One other possibility rumoured is a joint peace-proposal by Hitler and Stalin. If it comes it must be examined on its merits ; war at any-price is no part of our policy ; but it is hard to believe that any proposals which Hitler, exalted by his Polish victory, would put forward could be acceptable.
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