The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-07

The Russians at that time were playing the British off against the Nazis, and figured they would jump to whichever side seemed to be coming out on top.
 However, the Japanese alliance came as dose of very cold water in Moscow'S face. Foreign Min ister Molotof apparently did not know for sure that the alliance was to be signed until about 24 hours in advance. And despite reassuring statements that Russia was being taken care of, there have been no actual commitments by the Axis powers to the Soviet.
 Of all the powers ringing the great land mass of Russia and Si- beria, probably the oldest tradi- tional enemy is Japan. The Rus Sians have got along fairly well with Germany since the last war, have had their ups and downs with Gre at Britain, but with Ja- pan there is a long and unmiti- gated enrnity. Therefor, for Ja- pan to become 8 part of the Axis is bitter pill for the Soviet to swallow.
 It Is reported that Russia is asking that part of Manchukuo
 be given her as a sop for the new alliance. It is also reported
 that the Axis might give Russia the strait of the BopOrus plus
 a sphere of influence through Iran to the Persian Gulf. But
 all these are merely reports.
 Only tangible fact known here is that the Russians now seem to be a little more amenable to req son, and there may be a common understanding worked out between the United States and Moscow regarding Japan. So far the State Department is letting Russia have all the aviation gasoline it wants and also the machine sools pre- viously ordered here-though these have been barred to Japan.
 It's no easy job to pin down the Russians, but conversations along these general lines are proceeding.
 NOTE-Despite Stalin's extreme ire at the Nazi-Japanese deal, it will not surprise U. s. observers if temporarily he pays lip service to the new setup or even fiirts with 8 non-aggression pact = which, however, will be meaning less.
 LEGION POLITICS
 There was one piece of politics at the American Legion conven- tion in Boston which did not leak out-some hot rivalry between two Republican groups.
 It happens that Hanford Mac Nider, Assistant Secretary of War under Coolidge, headed the Re- publican Service League up until recently. It was his job to rally Legion votes for Republicans.
 However, the Republican Serv- ice League was recently euch- cred out from under MacNider and put under Harry Colmery, former commander of the Amer ican Legion.
 And at Boston, Colmery opened Willkie headquarters at the Stat Ter Hotel. This was the first time that a Legion convention had been used openly to boost one political candidate, and considerable re- sentiment was expressed, much of it coming from the friends of Hanford MacNider. Democrats stood on the sidelines and grinned. COPPER BOTHERED
 It hasn't been publicly an- nounced, but the big copper mo- guls have assured the Defense Commission there will be no price kiting on this vital raw material.
 The promise was not entirely voluntary. It followed some point ed prodding.
 With defense production swinging into full stride, copper recently began showing signs of s00mlng slgyward. Overnight there was . half-cent jump to 12 cents c pound.
 To Defense Commissioner Leon Henderson, whose job is to police prices, this restiveness was unwar- ranted. He had c confidential doasier on copper containing cer- tain interesting facts. one of them was that while the U. s. Government was being charged i2 cents c pound. large quantities were being sold Co japan at lens than 40 cents.
 Another was that the Q. \. copper producers were protected hy A 1soent iaFlll and ihat pIan.