LITVINOFF'S DIPLOMACY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 695, 22 November 1933, Page 4

LITVINOFF'S DIPLOMACY

The long deferred recognition of the Soviet Government by the United States will undoubtedly be welcomed with jubilation in Moscow, but it may also be regarded with more restrained enthusiasm in other quarters. Its reactions upon British commercial enterprise may not be satisf actory for there is no doubt that in their first enthusiasm for things American, the Soviet will transfer to the United States a large volume of business which has hitherto perforce been directed to the United Kingdom. Imperialistic Britain is not favourably regarded by the commissars of the Union of Soviet Republics who rightly recognise in the sane democracy of the Empire the greatest obstacle to the propagation of their doctrine but they have been eompelled, largely through force of circumstances, to give business to a customer whose commercial support is necessary to them in certain directions. America, however, now that she has been persuaded to relax her ofhcial disapproval of the Soviet and all its works will be able to supply many things that previously were obtained from Britain and there is no doubt that in its first determination to impress its new customer, the Soviet will give preference to American business. But there is a brighter side to the position from the international point of view. For some time Russia has been in a very restive condition, menaced in the Pacific by the growing military power of Japan and threatened in Europe by the aggressiveness pf Nazi Germany. That astute diplomatist, M. Litvinoff, however, has safeguarded the European frontier by concluding nonaggression pacts with Poland as a protection against Germany, while his latest triumph in securing recognition by the United States has given the Soviet a

new and very powerful ally in the Pacific. There is little doubt that of two evils, the United States will prefer the Soviet to Japan and while this is scarcely agreement for agreements sake, it should restrain the aggressive diplomacy of Japan. Internationally, therefore, although it is impossible to forecast to precise reactions from the United States recognition of the Soviet, it has erected another barrier before the rising tide of Japanese domination in the East.