NEWS OF THE WEEK
MR. MOLOTOV'S statement regarding Russia's attitude towards Rumania fully deserved the praise the Prime Minister gave it in the House on Tuesday. It was indeed as welcome in London and Washington as it was disheartening in Germany, and as reassuring to any sane Rumanian. Russian armies are across the Pruth and are pressing victoriously into Rumanian territory. The only chance that Germany now has of organising an effective resistance on the south-eastern front is to capitalise the despair of the Rumanians and induce them to mobilise all the forces they can muster to support her. She has been assuring them that Stalin intended to destroy their national life, and now the Soviet Foreign Commissar announces that the Soviet Government does not aim at acquiring any part of Rumania's territory or altering the existing social structure, and that Russian troops have only crossed the Pruth to pursue and rout the enemy forces. It is clear that the Rumanian soldiers have little heart for more fighting, and they will be still less inclined to pursue the struggle in proportion as they recognise that the sacrifice they are asked for is for Germany rather than for their own country. It is true that Antonescu himself is deeply com- mitted, and the Iron Guard has nothing to hope for except in a Fascist State. But it is to the Rumanian people and the soldiers that the message is directed. In front are the irresistible Russian armies. Behind are the American bombers based on Foggia, which having just wrought havoc at Buda-Pesth, have now attacked Bucharest and may soon bomb Ploesti, or the communication lines between Rumania and Hungary. The Balkans are now in the war. For the Rumanians it will be shorter if they realise that the only aim of the Russians in Rumania is to destroy the Germans.
