Evening star., 1938-11-27
Bv Constantine Br0wn.

the economic problem until "other pc
litical matters were adjusted"
From that moment the White House
and the State Department realized that
the only result of the Munich pact has
been to further Germany's expansionist
program throughout the world
The consequence of this clear realiza-
ton has been the drafting of superla-
tive American rearmament program.
Washington political and military ex-
perts forecast dramatic developments
next spring in the shape Of concerted
German Japanese attack on Russia.
From the military point of view this
is now possible. Germany has finally Sc
sured access to Russia through Poland
and Czechoslovakia. Rumania will offer
no difficulties to a march of German
troops through her territory, for the
simple reason that it would be suicidal
for her to oppose the Reich when both
France and Britain have been COM
PEELED to yield.
Ismet Inonu, the new President of the
Turkish Republic, is more friendly to-
ward the Reich than the late Kemal
Ataturk. His cooperation through the
Caucasus can be invaluable to Hitler's
general staff and profitable for Turkey,
which could, in this manner, expand
toward Iran.
Japan Has China In Hand.
BY the end of this year the Japanese
expect to have the Chinese situation well
in hand. While Chang Kai-shek is
making desperate efforts to sustain the
morale of his troops in the few provinces
still under his control, the japanese are
now in position to organize puppet
governments with Chinese leaders
willing to serve Toxic. The oriental
fatalism of the Chinese masses should
make this an easy task.
The japanese Kwantung army, the
toughest of Japan. has not participated
in the present operations. Its officers
and men are asking for good fight.
Last spring, when they attacked the
Russian army, the Emperor's personal
intervention was necessary to prevent
an outbreak between Japan and Russia.
Toxic did not want another war on its
hands then because it had not completed
the conquest of China. Now that this
shortly will be done, the general staff has
no objection to putting the final touches
to the Tanaka plan. Germany wants
Russias raw materials, especially gold,
which exists in large quantities in the
Ural Mountains. Japan wants to round
up her conquest by annexing at least
the maritime provinces with Vladi-
vostok.
The U. S. S. r. is weaker today than
she was last summer. Field Marshal
Bluecher, the creator and organizer of
the Siberian army has been, or is by
way of being, "purged." He was arrested
and spirited away from his faithful
Siberians by o. G. P. U. agents. His
fate is not known except that he is in
disgrace, which means that he will soon
face the firing squad If he has not yet
been shot. The Siberian army, according
to recent reports, feels keenly the dis
appearance Of Its commander and the
morale of the troops is low.
Hence, the task of the Kwantung
army, reinforced If necessary by men
from the metropolis, would not be as
difficult as it was some time ago.
Furthermore, Russia faced with an at
tack from German Polish force on her
western border and an attack from the
Turks in the Caucasus. could not offer
effective resistance to the invaders.
Victory Would Weaken Reich.
A few years ago British diplomat,
v,oeci6i1if1y
of a German Russian war, stated that
this would work out ultimately to the
advantage of the democratic states be-
cause: Germany will win but will be SO
exhausted economically and nilitarily
that she will be compelled to play second
fiddle to Great Britain and the United
States" But this is no longer true today.
A combined effort on the part Of Ger
many and her European satellites, with
Turkey and Japan, would not exhaust
but strengthen the Reich at the conclu-
sion of such war. Furthermore, it
would bring about the fall of the Stain
regime, with every probability that gov
ernment playing into the hands OF the
totalitarian powers would be established
in Russia. Without further territorial
conquest, Germany would dominate that
new state economically and politically.
Washington believes that these de-
velopments will occur sometime next
spring. Nobody here intends to take up
the cudgels for the Soviets. But 1t Is
realized that victory for Germany and
her Asiatic associate would crush COM
| pletely whatever is left Of democratic
governments In Europe. What Is worse.
| It would have such repercussious In