Germany and the Soviet Union The direction of Soviet foreign
policy in the near future remains obscure ; but the rumours of a diplomatic rapproche- ment, leading to a new trade agreement with Germany, should serve as a hint to the Western Powers that they can continue to ignore Russia only at their own risk. Never- theless, it does not yet appear that the rapprochement has become effective; and the recall of Herr Schnorre, Eastern European expert in the German Foreign Office, while half- way on a journey to Moscow, shows that there are serious obstacles to be overcome. But those Western Democrats who have hoped that Herr Hitler might be diverted into an attack on the Soviet Union may reflect that since Munich Herr Hitler has shown rather more respect for the U.S.S.R. than for France or Great Britain. His Reichstag speech was notable for the lack of any attacks on the Soviet Union (though there were plenty on Bolshevism) ; and the actual facts of German policy in recent months are a sufficient com- mentary on the reports that the Soviet Union is so weak that the Ukraine is Germany's for the asking. The greatest danger of the disastrous policy of ignoring, rebuffing and isolating the Soviet Union is that it may succeed ; Herr Hitler could ask no greater assistance in his efforts to free Germany from the menace of the war on two fronts.
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