In response to Gwynne Dyer's May 6 article, entitled "How a peace treaty started a war", I find the statements that the Soviet Union "tried hard to stay out" of the Second World War, and that the Soviet Union even signed a non-aggression pact with Germany but was dragged into the war anyway within two years, a gross misinterpretation of well-known historical facts.

The Soviet Union started the Second World War together with Germany. When Soviet troops invaded Poland on Sept. 17, 1939, they took possession of their share of land, according to a previously signed agreement, Aug. 23, 1939, known as the Ribbentrop-Molotow Pact.

For its aggressive actions, without any provocations, the Soviet Union was expelled from the League of Nations on Dec. 14, 1940. It is therefore distinct possibility that the Second World War might never have happened, but for the Soviet-German treaty of Aug.23, 1939.

WALDEMAR ROMANOWSKI
Laval

Published by The Gazette May 17, 1985.