THE H.B. TRIBUNE TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1933 RUSSIA IN FAR EAST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 78, 14 March 1933, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1933 RUSSIA IN FAR EAST.

A Shanghai message yesterday gave further currency to reports that "Japan and Manchukuo contemplate a conquest of China and the establishment of a federated Chinese Empire with Pu-yi, the late Emperor’s son and now Manchukuan President, resuming the throne.” This rumour can probably be dismissed as a Chinese canard, for, under present conditions at any rate, Japan is not likely to embark on any such foolish enterprise. Much greater credence can, however, be given to to-day’s Kobe message stating that, ‘’though some fighting in the neighbourhood of the Great Wail still continues, Japan regards her great object as having been practically achieved,” that object, of course, being the clearing of China’s armed forces from the Jehol Province, claimed as part of the Manchukuan State. There need be little doubt that with this achievement Japan will for the time being be quite content, unless, of course, China chooses to continue hostilities in the hope of recovering it. Japan is not at all likely to be looking for a fight for its own sake, having still quite enough on hand to maintain order in Manchukuo, to say nothing of financial and industrial troubles at home. What may be wondered, however, is as to whether Soviet Russia will calmly accept the position that has now been created. It has to be borne in mind that she still retains her big interest in the Chinese Eastern Railway that runs the full length of Manchuria, junctioning at one end with the Trans-Siberian line and at the other with a Russian line running to Vladivostok, Russia’s sole port on the Pacific. Under the Chinese regime Russia had been allowed to exercise virtual control over the Manchurian portion of this valuable transport system, but it may be doubted whether the new Manchukuan Government, under Japanese direction, will be found quite so complaisant. Over this, therefore, there is quite enough room for serious differences to arise, while Russia is afco said to have established commercial and industrial interests in Jehol itself. Beyond this, it has to he realised that in the neighbouring interior regions

of China Russian emissaries have for long been busy pleaching the gospel of Communism, and with a very great measure of success, thus providing another serious menace to Japan’s position in Manchukuo. Though we have heard very little about it the spread of Russian Communistic doctrines threatens a very great part of the Chinese Republic, a fact of which cognisance is specifically taken in the Lytton report on Sino-Japanese differences. It is there fully recognised that this is one of the greatest and most disturbing difficulties with which any Chinese Government will have to contend. According to a writer in the. Fortnightly Review Communist influence, previously confined to the southern provinces, has during the last year or two spread with amazing rapidity in the country north of the Yangtze. Altogether, he says, it is estimated that an area of 300,000 square miles and a population of 90 million are virtually dominated by the “Reds,” and that such efforts at suppression as successive feeble and disunited Chinese Governments have been able to make have been of little or no avail. The internal disorders that have torn China for so long, with all their incidental exactions and oppressions of the populace, have provided an exceptionally fertile field for Communist propaganda. Thus the seed so busily sown has taken firm root and the growth has flourished exceedingly. So much so, indeed, that it almost looks like taking possession of the country unless some effective check upon its extension is devised. In very many parts of the Chinese interior there have already been established local Communist governments that carry on in practical independence, indeed in active contempt, of the central government. Of this, and of the grave dangers it implies, the review writer states, the Western nations would seem to be entirely unconscious. It may well be, therefore, that Russia, even if keeping out of the fray herself, will exercise all possible influence to perpetuate Sino-Japanese hostilities, thus giving further opportunity for Communist penetration.