DESIGNS ON CHINA

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 463, 3 July 1937, Page 3

DESIGNS ON CHINA

Reason Fbr Trouble Between Soviet And Japan

The River Amur, which was the scent of a clash between Japan and the Soviet this week, is known also a& the Sakhaiin-ula and the Heilung Ki'ang. It is formed by the union of the Argun and Shilka, which rise in the Stanovoi Mountains. In its upper course the Amur proper follows a south-easterly direction and separates Manchuria from the Siberian provides of Amur. After receiving the Sungari from the south, it flows northeast, passes Khabarovsk, forces its way through the Khingan ranges, •and enters the sea at Nikolaievsk, opposite the north end of Sakiohalin Island. Frozen for half the year, it is navigable by large steamers for 1500 miles, from M'ay to October. It is 2920 miles long from the source of the Argun. The Amur proper is 1800 miles. Behind the trouble between Russia and Japan is the designs of both countries on China. Japan’s, 'aim toward securing the control of China is completely to close the “inland gate.” The military domination of North China, at any hate, depends on a solid hold on Mongolia. “In order to conquer China, we must first conquer Manchuria, and Mongolia,” said' General Tanaka, Although Soviet

Russia h’ad gradually gained control of Outer Mongolia, it was expected that she would 1 , yield to Japanese pressure as she had done in Manchuria. As it has turned out she has not yielded, and Japan has been compelled to take the more precarious road through Inner Mongolia. Russo-Japanese rivalry in Mongolia has existed since the boginnSng oi the century. Russia was first on the scene. After the Russo-Japanese war, 1904-5, J'apan began to assert her Interest in Mongolia. M. Stahn’s Threat. The legal position is now that the Soviet Government recognises the sovereignty of China over Outer Mongolia, wjiile the Government of Outer Mongolia has actually existed since 1921. In March, 1936, M. S’udin publicly declared that “if Japan should venture to attack the Mongolian People’s Republic and/ encroach upon its independence, we will help the republic just a& we helped it in 1921.” That statement meant that Soviet Russia was prepared to go to war if Japan attacked Outer Mongolia. The chief reason for this Soviet attitude lies in the fact that in a war between Japan and the Soviet Union the Japanese forces could outflank the Red Army through Outer Mongolia and at the same time strike at the industrial centres and the food reserves around Lake Biaikal The Russian defences along the SovietManchuria frontier are considered to be almost impenetrable.