The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-25

JAPANESE imperialism has never hidden its
y desire for expansion in the Far East III 1927
Baron Tanaka, then Premier, drafted a memo
randum that has since become notorious. He
referred to the inevitably" OF war between ia
pan and the uSSR and outlined the step Japan
must take. First he declared, NLanchuria and
Mongolia must he occupied. Thenour second
step would require us to make good use Of the
Chinese Eastern Railway to attack and pene-
trate Siberia until we occupy Upper UdaSE east
of the BaikaI Lake. and force Russia to cede lis
the great plain east Of the Lena River and up
to the Behring Strait
me policy then outlined has not been watered
down. "IZvestIa," the official newspaper OF 5he
Soviet Government, published on March 4th
series OF extracts from documents emanating
from the highest military circles in Japan. These
documents GOT the rs" and cross Tho rs Of
the Taaaka Plan. The extracts have already
been reprinted in the press OF the working class
of all countries. 1t is worth while however, TO
give here the following excerpt from one of the
documents: One of the chief features in our
war should be strateglcal propaganda by means
Of which it viii be possible to involve the West
crn neigbbors i'll the war with the USSR, while
causing d collapse within the USSR by making
Use OF White Guard groups within and without
The Union, as well as torcign-born ana all anti
Soviet clements
Carrying Ont the japanese Plan
Japanese troops have seized Manchuria and
a puppet government has been set up. The Mon
golian princes and petty chiefs have been invited
to a conference In Mukden to discuss closer re-
lations"
Thus the first part Of the Japanese plan is
fulfilled.
Now for the Second Part. Japan is losing no
time in making use of White Guard troops"
The White Guard newspaper "Vosroshdenije"
("ReSurrection'9 reports (January) japanese
leaders repeatedly emphasize that they place ex-
ceptional hopes on us Russians that are hostile
to the UsSR." All newspapers report tremendous
White Guard activity in NIanchuia. One lead
er, Semjonov, claims to have an army OF 100000
on the Soviet border. Others CBalderiev in Paris
and Tohapaline in London) are recruiting more
Whites" for Manchuria. The USSR has already
had to protest sharply against the arnling and
financing of these forces by Japan.
The second part of the Japanese plan is being
fulfilled.
Now comes the more ticklish problem of seiz-
ing the Chinese Eastern Railway part owned by
the USSR) and actual intervention. The Jap
anese Foreign Minister has already circulated a
report from what he calls a reliable infor1ner"
that ''the Bolsheyiks hate the Japanese" and
have 100000 troops concentrated in the Vlad-
livestock district"
The Japanese authorities have demanded spec
cial facilities on the Chinese Eastern Railway for
bringing troops to the Soviet frontier Refusal
by the Soviets would, Of course provide o pretext
for seizure. The USSR has consented to only
limited use of the railway. Then cine the re-
volt of Manchurian troops on the Soviet frontier
it convenient to proceed with his nationals over
the border into Soviet territory. Japanese i'm
perialisn now has excuse for demanding fur
Their railway concessions for the protection"
of its nationals.
Thus at the moment Of writing, is the mine
of Intervention set. 1t needs only press of the
button.
Intervention ia China
Bound up with the question OF Intervention in
the USSR is the question of partitioning China
The imperIalst powers have similar reason for
dividing up China as they have for intervention
in the USSR First, districts IN China with in-
habitants have introduced the Soviet system,
and its power and influence is rapidly extending
Secondly, China Is q rich field for colonial ex-
pansion, partition Of which might temporarily re-
1ieye the present economic crisis,
It is q great mistake to regard japanese in
sGGbSLlL4OL Ill SHANGHAI aS an lQClQent, or an
''interlude," It is simply the other edge Of the
sword that is cutting along the Soviet frontier.
Unity Of Imperialist Powers Against Soviets
It is an even greater mistake to suppose that
Japanese imperialism is carrying out operations
on its own. The plan of Japan, as noted above,
snyisaged the cooperation Of the Western Powers
against the USSR. These powers have not been
slow to DO their share.
While Japanese troops were operating in Man
Shurla ana emma the British Government broke
oft the Ango-Soviet debts negotiations, restricted
trade credits, and announced an inquiry into
the unsatisfactory" condition. Of Anglo-Soylet
trade, France at the Disarmament Conference
proposed, as a gesture" that the League of Ma
ton should have special army of its own, It
needs no imagination to see how such an army
would be OF use primarily against the USSR, A
more practical French proposal was the creation
Of a "Danubian Federation" and details of this
are now beng worked out, Such Federation
means further consolidation Of the anti-Soviet
forces in the West. Already the small East
European countries have total Of 574O00 TROOPS
armed and financed by France and Britain and
partly by Czecho-Slovakia on the Soviet's vest
ern frontier. (The total strength of the Fed
Army guarding ALL tronuers, tor the Western
and eastern, IS 5600o0).
In the Far East the japanese army has paved
the way. 1t has set the sage IN Mancnul.a, anu
u has gwen the otner lmper4ansG powers an ex-
cssse lor senoIng Lnelr armies ana navles to the
Far East IN READINESS. Despite the intense 1eal-
GUINNESS between the imperlahst powers, leading