The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-29


 used to puncture present peace pros- poets depends upon how EuropeS rulers judge the compar ti V e strength and solidarity of the tot alitarian bloc and the rival security front formed by Great Britain and France.
 But for the moment, the security front leaders were confident that Britain and Soviet Russia would complete their military alliance shortly and that France and Turkey would come to terms returning the Province of Alexandretta, in Syria, to the Istanbul government. Those two objectives would bring both Russia and Turkey into the peace" encirclement of Germany and Italy and complete probably the most powerful security front in history.
 Germany, Italy Peaceful
 Against such united front-which has nothing to gain and everything to lose by war-there is growing be- lief that Germany and Italy prefer period of peaceful consolidation and negotiation of conflicts in view of Britain's repeated offers to talk over readjustment of claims and of Frances willingness to meet at least good share of Italy's demands n the Mediterranean.
 Mussolini already has indicated desire for such negotiation and, again, the general problem of Eu- ropean war or peace must turn largely on the attitude of Hitler. Nobody in position of power in Flu rope any longer even tries to guess what the Nazi Fuehrer will do, but at least on paper the opposition to any aggressive move is now united and ready to fight.
 Totalitarians Active
 The totalitarian bloc has not been idle while Britain negotiated with the Soviets, but for the moment their activities have been limited. The wooing of Jugoslovia, rich in cereals, has advanced and Regent Prince Paul will visit Berlin early m June. The strengthening of ties with Hungary has continued and the Nazis were gaining seats m to- day's general election, which the government party generally domin- ated.
 In the Far East, Japan kept up a running fire directed mainly against the British and Russians and, in the long run, designed 10 aid the position of Germany ana Italy.
 For several weeks fighting has been in progress sporadically along fine frontier of Manchukuo, which IS .Tanan's stronghold, and outer Mon goiia, which is largely under ,Sovies domination.
 Planes Are Give Away
 The opposing forces are described as Manchukuoans and Mongolianss hrt the eugagements which resulted in hundreds of casualties, have been fought with airplanes ana 0tnsr euuipment which would be available orily to Japanese and Russian armed forces. As a result, it is actually aii- other Soyiet-Japanese clash on their Oriental frontier and, combined with Japanese aggressiveness to- ward British interests in China, It generally has been regarded as a Japanese warning against the Bri- tish-Soviet alliance.
 There were. however, indications that the fighting might become Q serious conflict between Japan and the Soviets. That will depend enc tirely upon how serious the gov- ernments concerned want to make 1t. but at present the Japanese ap- pear to desire to make 1t an in- portant incident. One Japanese army spokesman in Shanghai dee scribed the clash as more serious than the battle with Russians ct changkufeng Hill last year. which would indicate that serious trouble is anticipated.