Evening star., 1934-06-10
tendencies Soviet policy will play /,

great and increasing part.
Until recently the Russian system
might have been on another planet
so far as its intercourse with the
Western European powers was con-
cerned. 1t had repudiated Europe
on the one hand and been ostracized
by Europe on the other 1t was at
war with the so-called capitalist
government, and believed, or affected
to believe for internal purposes. that
the aforesaid capitalist" govern
ments had one supreme purpose in
common, which was the destruction
Of the Soviet system. This belief, OF
affectation of belief. while still main
tanned for propaganda purposes at
home, has viSibly lost ground as an
influence upon Soviet policy.
The main reason, no doubt, Is
the ticklish situation in the Far East
and the menace to Russia's Asiatic
position involved in the ambitious
program of a militaristic and adven-
turous Japan.
The more the shadow of Japan
over the Far East deepened, the
more Moscow was disposed to moder-
ate its antagonism to the European
powers, and when Japan, resentful OF
the action Of the League Of Nations
on the Manchurian question, with
drew from Geneva, there was 9
wave of something like friendliness
tn I'D ho in in
The subsequent withdrawal OF Ger
many strengthened this change OF
feeling, for Germany under the Hitler
regime is hardly less inimical to
Russia than Japan is.
There ensued a very marked re-
versal in the policy of Moscow. For
a year and more Foreign Commissar
Litvinoff has been busy making
friends with the mammon of capital
istic unrighteousness. He has squared
matters with the countries on the
European borders of the Russian
realm. He has restored something
like the old Franco-Russian alliance
has made terms with the United
States, entered into new economic
relations with Italy and established a
sort of commercial entente with
Great Britain. And in all this he
has been helped by the change OF
atmosphere in the capitalist" coun-
tries themselves.
r y
Whether Moscow will join the
League is still only matter of specu-
lation. but it is significant that the
controlled Soviet press is now per-
mitted to discuss the question quite
favorably and there are abundant
evidences that Russia is in the mood
for much more definite collaboration
with Europe. 1t is reported, for ex-
ample, that Litvinoff has proposed a
new security pact founded on Joseph
Paul-Boncour's scheme, with its three
groups of states with varying degrees
of responsibility Kellogg pact
group, a League group and Cont
mental European group, the last
named linked by a pledge of mutual
assistance. Such a scheme would go
far to meet the French demands for
security" without imposing on
Britain more liabilities than it is pre-
pared to shoulder. If this idea even
tuates, it would almost, ipso facto,
imply the inclusion of Russia in the
League.
Such an inclusion would have i'm
portant and far-reaching conse-
quences in other directions which
are not outside the calculations of
NFOorOw IF uyoIfld effoctiveIv NEGATIVE
the plan of Herr Rosenberg for setting
up some sort of "autonomous" state
in the Ukraine, which German in
dustry would dominate and German
people would colonize. And it would
have its influence also in discount
ing the German dream OF a Middle
European empire extending eastward,
as Herr Hitler has imagined, and
offering a privileged market for
German industry.
a (copyrisht. 19340