RUSSIAN BASES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 279, 25 November 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN BASES

MAY BE PROVIDED FOR ALLIED NEEDS

Recd. 10 p.m. New York, Nov. 23. American observers in Russia believe the Soviet Union will grant the United States military bases against Japan as soon as the American forces demonstrate their ability to hold bases against any possible Japanese attack.

This was stated by the general secretary of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Mr A. D. Ward Carter, on his return from a tour of China, Russia and India.

Carter explained: “The Soviet attitude towards Japan was originally motivated bv Stalin’s determination to avoid a two-front war. However, with the Wehrmacht definitely on the run, Russia probably feels strong enough to guard the eastern flank and after Germany’s defeat will easily discover Japanese violations of the neutrality treaty justifying grantin? the Allies eastern land, sea and air bases. William Holland, a member of the staff of the Institute, who accompanied Carter, said that Chinese inflation had reached a runaway stage wherein industry was seriously curtailed because manufacturers fjund it more profitable to hoard raw material than to produce. The morale of American servicemen in China, he said, was seriously affected by inflation, poor living conditions and lack of a prospect of early action against Japan.