Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1939 RUSSIA LOOKING EAST?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1939 RUSSIA LOOKING EAST?

AN interesting and rather intriguing suggestion was advanced in a message from Moscow yesterday regarding the slat, talks between Britain, France and Russia which are reported now to be progressing in a good atmosphere. It,is believec, the message in question stated, “that the Soviet cesnes o extend the scone of the talks to British and French action in the event of a Russo-Japanese clash, and that it also desires to conclude quickly both the political and militaiy negotiations.”

Hitherto it has been understood, though there has been no explicit, pronouncement on the subject, that the exlienic j protracted discussions between the Western democracies and Russia have related solely to Europe. Lt was, indeed, stated some weeks ago by the British Under-Secretary lor Foreign Affairs (Air R. M. Butler) that difficulties had arisen chiefly over guarantees of the independence of the Baltic States. 11 the question of agreement regarding the Far East is now being raised by Russia'this presumably is a new or comparatively new development.

It would not, of course, be a surprising development, considering the present state of Russo-Japanese relations. Apart from detail disagreements in Sakhalin and elsewhere, Russia has been giving some assistance to China ever since the present Japanese invasion was launched a little over two years and the fighting at present in progress on the borders of Mongolia and Manchukuo rather obviously amounts to an unofficial war on a fairly considerable scale between Russia and Japan.

There have been some suggestions that the Soviet Government, while it is very keenly interested in the course of events in the Far East, is comparatively indifferent, as to what may happen in Europe. Such suggestions overlook some very important facts. However confident .Russia may be of her present ability to withstand attack, it is evidently not in her interests that'the 'Western democracies should be left to resist the Axis alliance unaided. If the democracies in the outcome, were even reduced to passivity, and Germany were enabled to absorb the remaining small States of Europe, Russia would find herself somewhat badly placed to defend and hold the Uktaine and some of her other western territories.

Much as a peace agreement in Europe would serve mutual interests, however, it is not impossible that Russia is seeking to extend the scope of the agreement to the Far East, A contingency against which she may very reasonably seek to guard "'herself is that of being involved in war with Japan and with Germany simultaneously. It might, indeed, be held that issues of peace and war in the Far East and in Europe are inevitably and inseparably associated.

A great deal, of course, would depend upon the conditions in which Russia sought to reach agreement with Britain and. France regarding the Far East. The most essential condition of agreement, it may be hoped, would be the re-establishment of the provisions of the Nine Power Treaty guaranteeing the independence and integrity of China. The American journal, “Current History.” in its latest issue, quotes reports of unstated origin, but to which Tokio is said to be paying, careful heed, to "the effect that the Soviet had offered Chiang Kai-shek greatly increased military support on somewhat remarkable terms' These terms, according to the reports, include an unimpeded spread of Communism in China, with the employment of additional numbers of Soviet political and military advisers, and further: —

Compensation for Soviet support is to include oil and gold mining concessions in Sinkiang Province—in which order is to be maintained by Soviet troops and the permanent independence of which is to be recognised by China —and the right to construct roads in Oujter Mongolia, Sinkiang and Kansu Provinces.

It must be hoped that the reports alleging that these terms have been proposed by the Soviet are not only being given careful heed in Tokio, but have been manufactured there. There is, it will be noted, a striking similarity between the conditions Russia is alleged to have proposed, and thoAe that have been established in China by Japan, in the extent to which an exercise of brute force has enabled her to do it.

An agreement between Russia and the Western democracies which involved the further spoliation of China is, it may be hoped, completely out of the question. There is no.obvious reason, however, why the peace agreement: should not extend to the Far East, provided the aims in view are genuinely to maintain peace, save in resisting aggression and to respect the ■ independence and integrity of China and all other nations concerned.