END NEAR IN FAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 5

END NEAR IN FAR EAST

MAY BE MATTER OF WEEKS

ENEMY FANATICISM SEVERELY SHAKEN

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, August 9. Whitehall, as a result of Russia’s declaration, regards the end of the war in the Far East as a matter of weeks, says the diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Mail. One high official said that the end may be even sooner than that. All informatipn reaching London via the chiefs of staffs committee in Washington indicates that the fanaticism of the Japanese war leaders has been severely shaken. Russia’s Red Banner armies along the Manchurian frontier have been substantially reinforced since the defeat of Germany. Mr Attlee, who is planning to make a war statement as soon as the House of Commons meets may find himself in a difficult position because critics within the Labour Party are already condemning the use of the atomic bomb as inhuman. The diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Express says that Russia’s declaration was finally decided at Potsdam. It can be. assumed that the declaration was timed to follow the launching of the first atomic bomb and the Japanese Government’s announcement that it was not surrendering. The news was immediately rushed by special messengers to Mr Attlee and the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Bevin. Mr Churchill and Mr Eden, as a matter of courtesy, were informed. The Foreign Office officially informed the King, who is staying in the country. The Daily Mail in a leader says that so far as Japan is concerned Russia’s declaration is the final stroke. The atomic bomb made her defeat certain; Russia’s intervention makes it inevitable. Russia could not have been expected to enter the Far Eastern war earlier, states the military writer of The Daily Telegraph. The three months which have passed since VE Day is a none-too-long time in which to execute a com-

plete change of front across the best part of two continents. It. is not true to suggest that Russia’s intervention is too late to be militarily advantageous. The collapse of the Japanese homeland does not necessarily mean that more than 1,000,000 Japanese in Manchuria, China and elsewhere will immediately lay down their arms. Russia’s intervention will undoubtedly bring the China war to a much earlier close than otherwise could have been hoped.

The chief Moscow radio announcer, M. Levitan, read the announcement of the declaration to the world. He gave dramatic emphasis to the passage about Russia’s obligations as an Ally. JAPANESE OFFER REJECTED M. Molotov at a Press conference last night revealed that a Japanese appeal to Russia to mediate between Japan and the Western Allies was made in the middle of July by the Emperor himself through the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Naotake Sato. It was turned down cold, according to an ' American broadcast from Moscow.

“Japan’s situation is now desperate and nothing can save her from complete military overthrow,” says The Times in a leader. “The Russian intervention puts an end to Japanese hopes of a long defensive war on the mainland. Nor can anyone doubt that it is a relevant, natural completion of an alliance ranking Russia as a full participant in the Far Eastern war and in its settlement.