Pacific Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 7

Pacific Affairs

IMPLICATIONS OP GERMANJAPANESE ALLIANCE “No country in Europe oc America, can conclude a pact in Asia and at the same time maintain that its Asiatic policy is independent of its policy in Europe or America,” claims Albert Sarraut, former Premier of France, twice Minister for Colonies, and at one time Governor-General of Indo-China, in the December Pacific Affairs, quarterly of the Institute of Pacific Relations. Commenting upon “the menacing implications” of the recently-formed Ger-man-Japaneso alliance, former Minister Surraut intimates that Germany, despite its apparent fear of the spread of world Bolshevism, may profit by tho victory of the Soviet Union in any future war with Japan. 11 From diplomatic memoirs recently j published and from tho once secret correspondence between Ivaiser Wilhelm U. | and Tsar Nicholas 11. we know that j Germany was constantly urging Russia j to war against Japan. In so doing,” it is maintained, “Germany sought to cast Russia away from European affairs into tho far realm of Asia. As a further development of this principle, Germany’s aim was to weaken the FrancoRussian alliance in Europe by diverting Russia toward an adventure in Asia. ‘ 1 Germany stood to profit from either the defeat or victory of Russia. Had Russia won the Russo-Japanese War, it would havo been obliged by the conquest itself to move toward Asia a large part of its effective military forces, thus weakening appreciably the pressure on the eastern frontier of Germany. On the other hand Germany foresaw that the result of the defeat of Russia would be to diminish tho effectiveness in Europe of tho Franeo-Rus sian Alliance. Germany itself would then have a free hand for its own ambitions. “It will be remembered that, in fact, the policy of Germany in Europe grew in audacity in proportion to tho reverse suffered by Russia.” There is no parallel between the present Franco-Soviet pact, which is effective only within the European system, and tho German-Japanese agrooment, says former Minister Sarraut. The latter pact, it is held, “can only be a political undertaking, providing for concerted action in Asia and Europe.’’