Evening star., 1936-12-06
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

A N IMMEDIATE settlement Of
~ the outstanding differences
~ between the Soviet Republics
a and the United States is sug-
eested by Washington diplomats as
the only effective counter stroke to
the German-Japanese agreement.
The announcement Of that pact pro-
duced more than a platonic interest
In Washington Government quarters.
And among the Soviets it caused a
stir close to panic.
The understanding between Ger
many and Japan. as given to the
bic by the Berlin foreign office, Is
merely an eyewash. The real agree
nent is kept as confidential as such
agreements can be kept these days and
contains besides the usual military
clauses the following two important
points.
/. The japanese and German gov
ernments pledge themselves, in the
event that either of the high con-
tracing powers becomes engaged in
q conflict with q nation which is not
contiguous to both countries, to give
full economic and diplomatic support
to the other.
2. Both high contracting parties
win keep each other fully informed
Of the changes they contemplate
making in the existing international
treaties and agreements which they
have signed with other nations in
the past.
In addition to these two para
graphs, the agreement provides in
detail the action which both coun-
tries will take in regard to the Soviets
as soon as they find it convenient to
attack the latter country.
Effect Of Agreement.
The first point is naturally of capi-
tai importance not only to France
and Great Britain, but to the United
States as we'll. 1t means that in the
event Germany is at war with q
European power such as France or
Great Britain, Japan will provide
Germany with raw materials and also
will exercise diplomatic pressure-un-
doubtedly through her army, navy
and air force-in behalf Of the Reich.
Conversely, should Japan become en-
tangled in war in the Pacific with
either Great Britain or the United
States, Germany will do her utmost
to exercise similar pressure.
The second point of the agreement
refers to further violations of the
existing treaties-the Versailles treaty,
the nine e-power pact and the agree
ment on the open door in China. The
two military powers hold in common
the view that they signed these
treaties and agreements at time
when they were not in a position to
refuse their signatures Now, how
ever. they contemplate junking them
altogether. Heretofore the Germans
have done it brutally by a mere execu-
tive order Of Der Fuehrer. The jap
anese have trampled the treaties un-
der foot more gracefully. They ex-
planned and tried to convince the
other powers that what Japan has
been doing on the Chinese mainland
was really for the benefit Of the
other interested nations. Now this
pretense will disappear and Japan
will continue her policy to obtain an
unchallenged control over China in
the Hitler manner.
And while Washington remains out
wardly calm, the Moscow government
is considering a move to offset at
least the psychological effect of the
Japanese-Germa agreement. The
recognition of the Soviet government
by the United States in November,
1888, created at that time a feeling
in Europe and Asia that the two coun-
tries, representing over 100000, 900
people with a tremendous economic
and military power. would stand by
each other for the preservation of
peace.
Repercussi0ns in Japan.
The repercussions of that diplomatic
gesture by President Roosevelt were
strongest in Japan. It had come unex-
pectedly. and upset all calculations of
the Toxic government. Ambassador
Debuchi, who had failed to inform his
government about the possibility of a
was dismissed from his Washington
post. Toxic adopted less aggressive
attitude toward the United States,
and the plans of the japanese staff
regarding Siberia had to be modified.
The effect of the recognition of the
Soviet wore of gradually when it be-
came evident that there could be no
agreement regarding the settlement of
the debts. Furthermore, the discus
sions regarding a commercial treaty
with the Soviets was deadlocked, and
Japan once more changed its atti-
tude toward the Soviets and the
United States But time had been
gained. The Soviet government was
able to strengthen considerably its
defenses in Siberia during the honey
moon period with this country.
The differences which prevented q
resumption of cordial political and
economic relations between the two
countries are unimportant. The set