OTHER NATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 10

OTHER NATIONS

THROUGH SOVIET LENS

JAPAN'S EARTH-HUNGER

A statement, dated December, by tlie Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs (M. Litvinoff) on Soviet Russia's foreign'relations, contains some curious points. ' ■ M. Litvinoff concentrates on the attitudes 'of Germany and Japan. It is made clear that during 1933 these are the countries with which Soviet Russia 's relations have been least satisfactory. The attitude of Britain is discussed calmly, without Teference to the Moscow trial. EAGLE AND RISING SUN. M. Litvinoff topes that Germany and Japan will not have any grievance against him for devoting special attention to them. "If I am not mistaken they have ever recognised a racial identity between them. This has become quite possible, since race has ceased to be an ethnical and anthropological conception, and has become something in the nature of a name of a militant organisation:." • "Our relations with Germany during the past year have changed'beyond recognition."' Needless to add, have changed for the worse. All. the same wo feel no. enmity to Germany's people, and are making no attempts on either her territory or her rights: and whatever we may do, we will never, encourage other States to make such attempts." The importance of the last ten words, as ballast to; a Franco-Eus-sian entente, is obvious enough ■ Another point made is that i Soviet Russia's foreign policy to Germany will bo conditioned by Germany's foreign policy to Soviet Russia and not by Germany's internal policy, even though the latter may include oppression of Marxists.' "We, of. course, are sensitive to the sufferings of our German comrades." But such feelings will not dietate.Bussia's policy to Germany. "We Marxists can be reproached least of all for permitting our feelings to dominate our policy." (As proof, he cites Russia s good relations with capitalist States and even with a Fascist State Referring to Italy, he says that "for the past ten years relations have been subjected to.no fluctuations, no trials either political or economic." In short Sovictism and Fascism have not even had a Moscow trial.) At the same time Soviet Russia would like, to see Germany curb the activities of "numerous agents and emissaries" and do something to erase the impression .of the recent German teaching of a Western offensive against the Soviet. . - - . ■ d EVEN CAPITALISM ACCUSES .' . JAPAN; ' •;.'.■_ As.to Japan, "we left our Far Eastern border almost without any defence", until defensive measures were compelled by a Japan "feverishly preparing for war." But Soviet Russia, while prepared to sell the Chinesei Eastern railway, will,yield f'not a single inch" of territory. "Japan's feverish war preparations force her to increase her .exports, leading to dumping on an unlimited scale, thus arousing against hereven those countries which potentially, might be reckoned as her friends." There may have been a time when Soviet Russia-would have disdained to quote the approval of capitalistic countries. , But now—"ln our argument with Japan even the capitalist world admits the correctness of our stand and attributes aggressivo, measures exclusively to Japan." Yet he will not admit that capitalist Governments love honour for. honour's sake. He adds a rider: ."The capitalists do this, ■' of course, not for love of us, but- because they realise that, if ' they approve Japan's operations . and political methods, and thus strengthen her position, then tomorrow they may find these same methods directed against their own interests." .- ' ' Soviet Eussia's treaty weapon for protecting her European front is the non-aggression pact, and she would apply it completely in Asia also. 'fWo now have pacts which have .come into force not only with all.our neighbours (apart from China and Japan), but with Franco and Italy as well." . Further, "we have accepted the proposal of the Chinese Government to conclude anon- xaggression pact. . . . Unfortunately, China is still suffering from tho invasion of a foreign enemy." INTERNAL INTEREST IN BALTIC ' STATES. Among the neighbour countries that havo made- non-aggression pacts with Soviet Russia are the Baltic .States ("windows upon the Baltic Sea"),. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These are very near neighbours. M. Litvinoff speaks of "our good will/towards them and our interest in the preservation of their complete economic and political independence. Wo arc not merely interested, however; we are concerned about this. Wo watch not only for phenomena which augur external danger for these countries, but follow carefully the development of internal political processes, which might bring about the loss or the weakening of their independence." There is a marked'distinction between this language applied to the Baltic States and the language (quoted above) applied to Germany's internal policy.