Evening star., 1939-12-24
Moscow-Tokio Accord
Foreseen, With No
Non-AggressionPact
Jopon's Fear Of Nation
Regarded os Surprising
Dread Of Communism
By FRANK H. HEDGES.

BY FRANK H. HEDGES.
TOXIC, Dec. % (NA.N.Ao.-A
''rapprochement" between Russia
and Japan, which have not been
normally at peace since the Bolshe-
visit revolution of November Z, 1917,
seems very near at hand-barring
further Russian involvement in the
warfare of Western Europe, in which
case all predictions 60 by the board
until the situation clarifies itself.
The term ''rapprochement' is
used, but just what does it mean?
In the case of Japan and Russia,
1t most distinctly does not mean
q non-aggression pact. Commenta-
tors, perhaps even governments, in
America and Europe have appar-
emily jumped to this conclusion, but
too many other problems would first
have to be solved to permit So
viet-Japanese non-sggression pact at
this time.
The most that could be achieved
by the attempts of Moscow and To-
kio to get along together more ami
cably, now or in the near future,
Is the solution of certain concrete
problems of long standing:
/. A new and enlarged agreement
permitting Japanese to fish in ST.
berian coastal waters under the gen.
eral provisions of the 1905 treaty Of
Portsmouth.
Delimitation Of Boundaries.
2. Definite delimitation of the
boundaries between Manchukuo and
Outer Mongolia. between Manchu-
kuo and Siberia.
3. A revision and workable basis
for operation of the Japanese oil
and coal concessions in the northern,
or Soviet, half of Saghalien (Kara-
futo) Island.
4. The conclusion of trade treaty.
A non-aggression pact at present
Is impossible for several reasons,
partly psychological and partly much
more tangible. The psychological
reason is the deep-rooted fear of
communist doctrines and practices
invading the sacred soil of Japan"
Not only the capitalists, but the
bureaucrats, the militarists, the
party political leaders and nearly
every shade of opinion in this
nation entertain that fear. It has
been sedulously cultivated and care
fully nurtured by every government,
whether party or non-party. for
more than two decades. 1t has kept
many. many policemen in their jobs
tracing down and stamping out
what they think may be its seeds.
Communism Threat Minimized.
In fact, to one who knows Japan
and how Communism and the Jap
anese theory of the state clash at
every point, this fear seems slightly
ridiculous and overwrought. Japan
is in no danger of Communism now
or at any time, unless she should
bring 1t upon herself. The empire
will never become bolshevist because
Of propaganda. from outside the
only possibility would be the crea-
ton of conditions within the nation
SO desperate as to drive the people
to seek any relief which might offer
itself, and those conditions are not
on the horizon today
Japan's fear of Soviet Russia as
q nation is much more important
Always Toxic asserts that not the
Soviet Republic, but only the Com
intern. is the enemy, but the truth
is that the nation rather than It's
MARKHAM theories constitutes the real
threat to japan and to its future
ambitions.
There is genuine territorial clash
Of interests in the Far East between
Russia seeking an ice-free port on
the open ocean now just as Czarist
Russia sought from the days OF Peter
the Great onward, and the Empire
of Japan with its ambitious goal OF
creating a new order in East Asia
which would make the voice and
hand of Toxic all-powerful in this
part of the world,
Border Incidents Cited.
The numerous border incidents on
the Asiatic mainland are instances
of this. The most serious OF them
the fighting at Nomonhan on the
Manchukuo-Outer Mongolian border
last summer, brought truce and
the creation of a joint commission
to demarcate the border. Although
the japanese public is told the con-
trary, the victory in this case goes
to Moscow.
Russian troops now occupy Sec
tor of territory which both nations
claim as their own. and the Jap
anese casualties last summer were
greater than those of all previous
border incidents put together. The
joint commission, meeting first ir
the Siberian city of Chita and next
In Manchukuo's Hardin, will seek tt
establish border preventing future
armed clashes.
The presence in the Russian Fal
East of vast army and enormou:
supplies of munitions and other wal
materials is extremely disturbing tt
Toxic. No non-aggression pact ap.
pears possible until these are dras.
tically reduced, and Moscow show!
no sign of taking such action. Japar
would never consent to reducing hel
own forces in Manchukuo. knowr
as the Kwantung Army. and Russia
can hardly be expected to act excep
on a mutual basis. The impass,
Is evident
Nor could Toxic afford to rela,
It's military vigilance as long as thu
Stain regime gives aid and encour
agement to the Chang Kai-shel
regime in the Sino-Japanese war
fare That aid has been nothing lik,
as great as the Chinese government
hoped for, but still it is sufficient TO
Japan to classify the Soviet as un
official foe rather than friend.
In plain words, even if Toxic de