With grins of glee Berlin officials announced last week the signing by Germany and Russia of "the greatest grain deal in history." In exchange for German machinery Russia agreed to send to Germany an unspecified amount of grain, oil and other raw materials. "Through this agreement the British blockade becomes more illusory than ever," chortled the pleased Berlin officials. "This will be a great disappointment to Winston Churchill."
In Moscow the sensitive Russians anticipated British and U. S. criticism by blustering that Russia would continue to follow an "independent policy." Said Izvestia: "There are in Britain and the United States some leading statesmen who believe that the United States . . . may sell to Britain everything . . . whereas the Soviet Union cannot sell to Germany even cereals without violating the policy of peace."
But from Britain and the U. S. criticism was conspicuously lacking. Both London and Washington observed that two days after the agreement was signed Russia signed another agreement—to send to China, enemy of Axis member Japan, $100,000,000 worth of military supplies. Same day word came from Istanbul that Turkey would fight Germany if German troops entered Bulgaria. Since Turkey has not lately talked so big, the London-Washington Axis surmised that Russia's left paw was trying to hold Germany out of Bulgaria (see p. 23} while Russia's right paw beckoned Germany into a friendly treaty.