RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 253, 26 October 1933, Page 6

RUSSIA'S FOREIGN POLICY.

Reports that the Soviet is steadily massing troops on the Russo-Manchukuo border show that, if these reports are correct, the tension between Russia and Japan which arose over the Chinese Eastern railway still continues. Russia has shown considerable restraint in dealing with the position in Manehukuo. She opened negotiations for the sale of the railway to Japan, but these negotiations have reached a condition of stalemate, and the Soviet Union is being continually irritated by Manchukuo's interference with Russian traffic on the road. •For this interference Japan is blamed, since Russia regards the new State of Manehukuo as merely a puppet State, and the Russians fear for the safety of their Siberian frontier if Japanese influence increases.

The Russian attitude towards Japan has stiffened since the signing of non-aggression pacts between Russia and her neighbours on her European and Asiatic frontiers. non-aggression pacts now include Persia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Poland, Rumania, Latvia, Esthonia and Lithuania. Finland and China have indicated their willingness to sign similar pacts at a later date. The Soviet has also established better relations with France, and this has strengthened the value of the pacts concluded with France's allies in Eastern Europe. As a result of a long conference with Mussolini, a draft has been prepared for a non-aggression pact between Italy and Russia, and, if this is concluded, the Communist and Fascist regimes, which have hitherto been enemies, will sink their quarrels. The Soviet has also established better relations with Great Britain and the United States, and altogether its foreign policy within the last year or two has been remarkably successful. These pacts vitally affect the Soviet position in the Far East. They secure the Soviet Union from attack and enable it to marshal forces in the Far East. This may give Japan pause in any attempt to seize the Chinese Eastern railway, and lead to negotiations to recognise Russian interests in this region. These interests were emphasised in the Lytton Report, and Japan cannot honourably ignore them.