Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1938. RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 87, 22 January 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1938. RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

' According to the Japanese press Russia, in co-operation with Outer Mongolia, with which she is allied, is concentrating troops and aeroplanes in the areas bordering on North China and Manchukuo. Outer Mongolio, which is the farthermost portion of China, has, like Inner Mongolia, so named because it lies nearer to the central administrative area, long gone its own way, the Government of the Republic being unable to enforce the sovereignty it verbally asserts by virtue of earlier relations. In pursuance of their policy of penetration, the Japanese gained a footing in Inner Mongolia, it being announced a few months ago that an independent state, in reality a puppet of Tokio, was to be created. There are economic motives for this move, but the ulterior motive is strategic—-to place a buffer between North China and Russian Siberia. Throughout, fear of Russia has been the dominant factor. This policy has been matched by Russia in Outer Mongolia. There, not so much in direct hostility to Japan as in prosecution of the Soviet Comfriunist aim to carry the anti-capitalistic campaign across frontiers, Moscow has long been active. Before Marshal Chiang Kai-shek came into power, the Soviet Government had hopes of making China Communist. Chiang’s skill and determination wrecked the Soviet scheme. However, Soviet influence persisted in Outer Mongolio, which had been gradually brought under Soviet dominance, an enterprise not very difficult, because Russia’s Siberian boundary marched with that of this portion of China. In 1924 Outer Mongolia became an independent autonomous State under Russia’s protection—-the similarity to Japan’s creation of Manchukuo is striking, but there was a difference in detail. A Young Mongol Party rebelled against China, the rebellion being inspired by dissatisfaction with China’s colonial policy among the Mongol tribes. The Chinese Government was unable to offer opposition, and the anomaly has continued a portion of China, after revolt, under Russian rule. If the report of the massing of troops is correct it means that Russia fears that the tightening grip that Japan now has over North China will eventually mean extension of her inroads. With national passions in that area always at “hair trigger” point, the movement of troops opens up prospects of serious developments.