Правда Виктора Суворова

«Our choice is therefore clear: We must accept the German proposal and send the English and French delegations [at that time on hand for negotiations in Moscow] back home with a courteous refusal.

«It is not difficult to foresee the advantage that we shall gain from this

course of action. It is obvious to us that Poland will be destroyed before England and France are at all in a situation to come to her assistance. In this case, Germany will turn over to us a part of Poland right up to the limits of Warsaw, including Ukrainian Galicia.

«Germany will give us full freedom of action in the three Baltic states. It will not oppose the return of Bessarabia to Russia [sic]. It will be prepared to yield to us Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary as a sphere of influence.

«Only the question of Yugoslavia remains open, its resolution depending on the position taken by Italy. If Italy remains on the side of Germany, then the latter will demand that Yugoslavia enter the zone of its influence. Through Yugoslavia it will obtain access to the Adriatic Sea. However, if Italy does not enter [the war] with Germany, then it will obtain access to the Adriatic Sea through Italy, and in this case Yugoslavia will pass into our sphere of influence.

«We must, however, keep in sight the possibility that Germany will emerge from the war as loser, and not as victor.

«Let us examine the case of its defeat. In this case, England and France will still be strong enough to occupy Berlin and to destroy a Soviet Germany, and we shall not be in the situation to come effectively to the help of a Soviet Germany.

«Our goal therefore requires that Germany should wage war as long as possible so that England and France grow sufficiently weary and exhausted and are unable to destroy a Soviet Germany.

«Our position will derive from this consideration: While remaining neutral, we will help Germany economically, providing it with raw materials and foodstuffs. But our assistance, it should go without saying, must not exceed a certain limit in order not to damage our economy or weaken the power of our army.

«At the same time, we must carry out an active Communist propaganda, especially in countries of the Anglo-French bloc and, above all, in France. We must be prepared for the situation. In that country in wartime our party will be forced to abandon the path of legality to shift to clandestine operations. We know that such activities require large resources, but we must unhesitatingly make the sacrifices. If this preparatory work is carried out thoroughly, the security of a Soviet Germany will be assured. That situation will contribute to the Sovietization of France.

«In order to achieve this goal, we must, as I said at first, insure that the war lasts as long as possible and that we devote toward this end the resources which we have.

«Now let us examine the second hypothesis, that of a German victory.

«Some believe that such a possibility would represent the gravest danger for us. There is a particle of truth in this assertion. But it would be an error to assume that this danger is as immediate and as great as some imagine.

«If Germany wins, it will emerge from the war too exhausted to wage war on us during the next decade. Its principal concern will be to keep watch on defeated England and France in order to prevent their rising up again.

«Moreover, a victorious Germany will have vast colonies. Their exploitation and adaptation to German procedures will also occupy Germany for several decades. It is patent that Germany will be too busy elsewhere to turn against us.

«Comrades», Stalin concluded, «I have given you an insight into my considerations. I repeat that it is in your interest that a war should break out between the Germany and the Anglo-French bloc. For us it is crucial that this war last as long as possible, so that both sides emerge exhausted. For these reasons we must accept the pact proposed by Germany and do everything possible so that this war, once begun, lasts as long as possible. At the same time, we must intensify our propaganda work in the belligerent states in order to be well prepared for the moment when the war ends».

Stalin's speech, listened to with reverential attention, was not followed by any discussion.Only two insignificant questions were asked, which Stalin answered. His proposal, that the Non-Aggression Pact with Germany be accepted, was adopted unanimously. Subsequently the Politbiuro adopted a decision to charge [Dmitri Z.] Manuil'skii, the president of the Comintern, with working out jointly with Dimitrov, its general secretary, under Stalin's personal direction, appropriate instructions to be passed to the Communist Party abroad.

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