Evening star., 1940-11-16
Brood Pact
Intended to
Frighten U. S.
Axis Held Seeking
Soviet Help to Cut
OFF Aid to Brituin
By EDGAR ANsEL MOWRER.

by EDGAh ANSEL MOWREH.
Among the many aspects Of the
attempt to widen the triangle alli-
ance to include Soviet Russia, one
stands out in importance for the
United States: The new "four-pow-
er" hookup. if realized. constitutes
a new and gigantic attempt to
frighten the American administra-
ton into ceasing to assist Great
Britain. Now Great Britain can
be as effectively damaged at Singa-
pore as at Suez. Japan's public ad-
herence to the triangle alliance q
couple of months ago was three
man" black-hand note to this coun.
try to keep out of Japan's path, or
else. And instead Of trembling, the
Washington administration called
up the Naval Reserves, acquired aux
iliary ships, pulled the Americans
out of the Far East lest they get
hurt, and ostentatiously rolled up
its sleeves.
Now the same three are back at it
again, this time accompanied by
another stout fellow, Soviet Russia,
and the intimation Is clear: Involve
ment of this country in a war against
Japan in the Pacific means INVOLVE
ment in a gigantic world struggle
with all four of them.
Pretty fierce, isn't it? Zum donner-
wetter noch Elm NAL! (stormy
weather ahead once againD If only
we didn't know that nothing, abso-
lutely nothing, can thus be changed
to our detriment by the new theo-
retical world partition into spheres
of influence" or vital spaces"
Italy Only a Liability.
So long as Britain Is going strong,
war in the Pacific against such
four naughty men would mean Just
that same old war with the Japa-
nese which has been foreshadowed
ever since the japanese set about
collecting the eight columns Of the
universe under the one (axiO roof,
to which shelter the American ad-
ministration has made it plain 1t
prefers the rain in the great open
spaces.
Washington oficials analyze the
situation somewhat as follows:
Italy? After the humiliations In
Epirus and the loss Of half its cap
ital ships at Taranto? Italy could
be to Japan a liability but under no
circumstances an asset. Germany
has no ships to send to the Far
East. Germany could send some
airplanes and pilots and, if desired,
some competent admirals and gen.
erals to help the Japanese direct the
campaign. But such help would be
insignificant. And the Japanese
militarists are probably far too vain
to accept sound German advice If
offered.
There remains Soviet Russia. The
Soviets, may. in theory. accept a
vital space" including everything
between the Dardanelles and CAL
cutta, but does any one see them 60
ing to war with this country to
realize it.
Russia Reluctant to Fight.
People here hold one thing to be
exiomatic: Soviet Russia does not
wish to fight and will not, against
a powerful adversary, unless direct
ly attacked. Therefore, Soviet help
to Japan would be purely platonic.
And the proof. If any be needed, is
that the Soviets. while ostensibly
lining up with the axis, have In
formed the Chinese that Soviet
help to China will continue. In
other words, the new threat" boils
down to Japan and fierce face.
In any case, instead of terrifying
this administration into ceasing
help for Britain. it is far more like
ly to bring about strengthening of
our forces in the Near East.
tCopyrisht, 194o by Chicago Daily News,
1nc.)