RUSSIAN ACTION EXPLAINED

Southland Times, Issue 25642, 9 April 1945, Page 5

RUSSIAN ACTION EXPLAINED

“Japanese Waging Bandit War” (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. The first Soviet comment on the Russians’ denunciation of the Soviet-Jap-anese neutrality pact bluntly reminds Japan of her occupation of the' Soviet maritime province during the Civil War and of the innumerable frontier clashes and armed conflicts which followed.

The Soviet action, it is stated, is the result of the fact that Japan is an ally of Germany, who is waging a bandit war against the Soviet Union, and that Japan is simultaneously carrying on a war against the United States and Britain, allies of the Soviet Union. Moscow radio stated that Russia was gradually forced after Stalingrad to sacrifice her independent foreign policy in the interests of her Anglo-Saxon allies, has played an increasing role in dealing with other countries, and that

the time has come to undo all existing international pacts.

The Soviet Press published the official denunciation of the Japanese pact without comment. It is explained in Moscow, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of America, that, technically, the pact would have been automatically renewed if it had not been denounced. RELATIONS MAY CHANGE Tokyo radio said that the Japanese Foreign Office had released the text of the Soviet statement denouncing, the pact. An Information Board spokesman said that the pact would remain in force for another year. The Domei News Agency, however, said that Russo-Japanese relations may see a swift change, for which Japan was ready. Domei and Japanese newspapers call for “a strong Cabinet, equal to the fierce war situation.” M. Molotov’s declaration to Baron Sato surprised nobody in Moscow, least of all the man in the street, who 'has never concealed his feeling towards Japan, says the correspondent of the British United Press. It is recalled that the Kremlin even in the darkest days of the German advance had not permitted Tokyo to blackmail Russia into making concessions. It is reported in Moscow that Japan was so anxious to maintain the neutrality pact that she had offered to nullify the Treaty of Portsmouth under which Japan received substantial concessions at the end of the war in 1904. The New York Herald Tribune, in a leading article, says the only possible interpretation is that Russia is preparing to enter the war in the Far East in order to hold a strong hand in the postwar settlement in Asia. The Chinese Press jubilantly hailed the fall of the Koiso Cabinet and Moscow’s denunciation of the Japanese neutrality pact. The newspaper, Ta-kung-Pao, appealing for a speedy Chinese counter-offensive predicted that the war against Japan would end earlier than had been popularly expected. The Chinese Army paper, Sao TangPao, said that possibly Japan would continue to fight with all her strength, but at the same time seek peace terms. It was pointed out that the Russian Far Eastern Army was at full strength, and Japan could not further deplete her Army force in Manchuria.