Staff Talks at Moscow While the political discussions at Moscow
make little visible progress, M. Molotov appears to have hinted that the immediate initiation of staff talks, for which he has always pressed, would be sufficient reassurance to the Russian mind to dispose him to move a little further towards the Franco- British standpoint in regard to the one political issue out- standing, the formula covering the action to be taken in the event of an indirect threat to Russia through the Baltic States. That being so, the appointment by the British and French Governments of a joint military, naval and air mission, representing both countries, is of more than merely technical importance—though even that is considerable enough. The necessity of the Staff talks is obvious, and though, as the Prime Minister said on Monday, to begin them before a political agreement has been concluded is almost unprecedented, the wisdom of the step taken in London and Paris is unquestionable. To work out plans for direct co-operation baween Russia and the Western Powers is very difficult for geographical reasons, but an understanding of Russia's plan of campaign, and the volume and quality of her resources, is essential to any strategy based on the assumption that Germany will have if war comes to fight on East and West simultaneously. Russian co-operation with Poland, important as that is, is at present more a political than a military problem.
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