The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-23
RUSSIA, JAPAN
 STUMBLE BLOCKS
Britain Has Not Succeeded in Clinching Soviets in
 Triple Alliance
BY JOE ALEX MORRIS Limited Press Staff Correspondent

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 Soviet Russia and Japan remained unknown quantities today in the al- ignment of totalitarian and anti-ag- gression powers, but there were per- sistent predictions that both would soon adhere to European military alliances.
 In London and Paris, the eventual adherence of Russia to the anti az gression front was taken for grant, ed despite difficulties still block ing negotiations between London and Moscow. The British cabinet meets tomorrow for final decision on how far it can go toward a mill itary alliance with the Soviets.
 In Rome and Berlin, there were confident predictions that Japan would join the totalitarian military pact signed by Italy and Germany in Berlin yesterday-if Britain joins full fledged alliance with Soviet Russia.
 Whether the Fascists and Nazis, who were understood to have agreed on secret clauses to their treaty di- viding Europe and Africa up into spheres of influence, were too op- tirnistic regarding the Japanese re- mained to be determined.
 Japan Wants One Alliance
 The Tokyo government has gone to great lengths to make it clear to Europe that Japan wants to join an alliance directed only against Rus e{o hut yrroV fc kn aak which would antagonize Britain, France and the United States if possible. In other words, Japan has sought to bargain with the so-called western democracies for 8 free hand to carry out her conquest of China-indirectly warning London that if Britain joins up with the SovietS the Japanese will be forced into adherence to the totalitarian military pact to protect her own interests in he orient.
 Great Britain, however, has been trying to work out a formula to fit both the Japanese and Soviet view ponits without losing the advan- tages of either. Due to Moscow's position, the British find it almost necessary to join up with the So- viets to make effective-on the battlefront as well as on paper their European anti-aggression front. But at the same time the government of Prime Minister Me- vile Chamberlain still hopes to work out an understanding with Japan that will keep the Tokyo regime out of the German military front.
 Answer to Puzzle
 The answer to that puzzler may be that the British-Soviet-F French alliance. If completed, will apply only to Europe and will not affect So- veit war in the Far East. Whether that would enable the most conser- oil the rising militarist clamor for vative factions in Japan to stavc an alliance with Europe's totali- tarians remains to be seen.
 There also was doubt whether the Soviets would accept Great Britain s proposals, despite the fact that the London cabinet has gone far toward meeting the Moscow demand for a comprehensive mutual aid pact de- signed to lend aid to any small Eu- ropean nation that requests 1t in event of conflict.
 The Soviets have taken full ad- vantage of the fact that their par itcipation is essential to success of the BritiSh-French front in Europe and are expected to squeeze the two western powers for the greatest pos- sible concessions to permit them to confront the German-Italian bloc with Q solid barrier against future expansion by force.