PACT DENOUNCED BY SOVIET

Southland Times, Issue 25641, 7 April 1945, Page 5

PACT DENOUNCED BY SOVIET

Japan Advised Of

Termination (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. Moscow radio announced the intention of the Soviet Government to denounce the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact. The Soviet Foreign Commissar, M. Viacheslav Molotov, today received the Japanese Ambassador to the Soviet, Sato. In the name of the Soviet Government he made a statement on the pact which was concluded between the Soviet and Japan on April 13,1941, which was before the attack by Germany on the Soviet Union and before the outbreak of war between Japan, Britain and the United States.

Since then, said M. Molotov, the situation had changed considerably. Germany had attacked the Soviet Union and Japan was helping Germany in the war against the Soviet. In addition, Japan was at war against Britain and the United States, who were allies of the Soviet Union. Therefore, the neutrality pact had lost its sense and it was impossible for it to be continued. In accordance with paragraph 3 of the pact, which made it possible to denounce it one year before the pact ended, the Soviet Government declared its wish to denounce the pact as from April 13. The pact was for five years. REACTION IN LONDON Russia’s denunciation of her pact with Japan means that she regards the war in Europe as nearing an end and herself free to switch her attention to events in the Far East, says The Daily Mail. This was the interpretation of diplomats in London when the news was flashed from Moscow. There is a prevailing belief in London that Russia’s action was part of a pre-arranged plan discussed at one of the Big Three conferences, possibly Teheran, but certainly Crimea. The diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Express says diplomats in London would not be surprised if Japan throws in her hand soon after Germany’s defeat. The Russians’ denunciation of the pact may be the last straw. The Mikado, who has never been an enthusiastic supporter of the war with the western Powers, may take strong action to extricate Japan from the greatest danger she has ever faced. The blunt terms of the Russian announcement leave no room for doubt about her reasons or her solidarity with Britain and the United States.

It seems something more than a coincidence that the resignation of the Japanese Government should so soon precede the Soviet announcement, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Press Association, who points out that the pact had another year to run and Russia had thus given the stipulated year’s notice. Russia’s denunciation will cause great anxiety to Japan because undoubtedly she has drawn considerable comfort from the fact that she could count on security from the north, in spite of the fact that Russia still has a number of Unsettled scores with Japan. Russia will undoubtedly remember that during the most critical stage of her war with Germany she had to maintain sizeable forces, sometimes totalling 1,000,000 men, in the east, simply because she could not place any trust in Japanese pledges.

Russia’s denunciation of the pact is considered to be one of the final steps preceding Soviet entry in the Pacific war, says the correspondent of the Associated Press in Washington. State Department officials were not formally notified of the Moscow action in advance, but the Russian action was foreshadowed informally. Whether Russia has planned further steps to make void all treaty and neutrality restrictions is not clear immediately. Senator Elmer Thomas (Dem., Oklahoma), chairman of the Senate Military Committee, told the Press that this action certainly must mean Russia’s eventual entry in the war against Japan. He predicted American air bases in Siberia. Senator Edwin C. Johnson (Dem., Colorado), said: “This is what we have been waiting for for two years.” AMERICAN SENATOR’S VIEW Senator Robert A. Taft (Republican, Ohio), also regarded the Russian denouncement as expressed iritention to enter the hostilities against Japan. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg (Republican, Michigan), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said: “This is undoubtedly a preview of vitally important things to come.” Tokyo radio, quoting informed circles, said the Russian action was by no means unexpected, and pointed out that M. Stalin’s speech in October and othex- developments in the international situation clearly indicated that the Soviet attitude towards Japan was undergoing a radical change. NEW CABINET IN JAPAN (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. Tokyo radio aimounces that the Emperor has asked Admiral Baron Kantaro Suzuki to form a new Japanese Cabinet. Suzuki, the president of the Privy Council, is aged 77. He was Minister without Portfolio in the Konoye and Tojo Cabinets. The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, after conferring with senior statesmen, submitted Suzuki’s name to the Emperor. The Associated Press of America says that Suzuki may be the spearhead of a Japanese peace offensive. Students of Japanese affairs believe that the new Government will have a moderate or liberal guise, suitable for the presentation of peace proposals. Suzuki fits into the picture. He is not identified with the war cliques. Suzuki was wounded when young Army officers assassinated members of the Cabinet in February, 1936. A Chungking message states that a Chinese spokesman said today that the resignation of the Prime Minister, General Kuniaki Koiso reflected Japanese discontent and dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war, but informed circles do not think the time is ripe for Japanese peace overtures.