The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1936 WEST JOINS EAST AGAINST COMMUNISM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20607, 22 December 1936, Page 8

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1936 WEST JOINS EAST AGAINST COMMUNISM.

Japan’s interest in the struggle between the Chinese Government forces and the rebels is based on issues much deeper than a wish to straighten out the tangles that seem to hamper ordered progress in China’s internal affairs. Moreover, it may be a far cry between Germany’s interests in the military operations of General Franco at the head of the rebel forces in Spain, and the campaign against the rebels in Northern China, which has attracted so much attention in Japan. But the connection is there, because both the Germans and the Japanese, fearing the spread of Communism and the influence of the Soviet, are determined to meet Communism wherever it appears. So much so, that Germany may yet risk the danger of trouble with the Western Powers, and become involved in Spain, because Herr Hitler is determined to fight Communism wherever it rears its head. Japan, on her part, is actuated by the same motives; indeed, the Nipponese authorities are seeking to cultivate the good favours of Northern China in the hope of creating anti Communism opponents on both sides of Russia. Well-informed observers of the march of events in Europe are of opinion that no doubt it is what she regards as a very real menace in Soviet policy toward Spain that has led Germany to enter into an agreement With Japan, which—-it is frankly and officially declared—is aimed at the Communist International. It is probable that such'an agreement between the two countries Wottld have been concluded eventually even if there had been no turmoil in Spain, but the revolution there and the events that have followed it have hastened the conclusion of the agreement. Herr Hitler has an intense hatred of Communism, and all his endeavours have been directed towards suppressing it in his own country. But he lives in continual fear of its revival and of its spread in countries adjacent to Germany. His principal object in trying to extend his influence in Czechoslovakia is to prevent the use by Russia of that country as a base and a jumping-off ground for dissembling propaganda in Western Europe. In Japan, Germany would find a ready ally against Russia, because of her almost identical fears, although they are related to different terirtories in the Orient. Discontent and extremism that the “Reds” are creating present a serious danger to Japanese ambitions in Manchuria and Northern China. If, then, Japan could find another country that would be willing to help her oppose the spread of Communism in the East she would be eager to co-operate with her. And so, out of a common fear, the new agreement has been born. Manifestly the JapoGerman agreement is designed to steady Russia because of the strategical position of the signatories of the treaty to the Soviet’s national nerve centres. There lias been some talk of Italy joining in the agreement. If she does so the Soviet will be faced with a formidable opponent on both sides of her territories. But so far Russia lias shown no disposition to fear the threats of troubled neighbours.