Evening star., 1941-12-12
Jap Plan 10 Assault
V|adivostok Expected
In Troop Movement
Litvinoff Gets Report
Border Strengthened;
Sees Hull and WeIIes
By BLAIR BOLLES.

Reports received by S0Vlet Am
bassador Litvinoff that the Japa-
nese are strengthening their forces
IN Manchuria along the Siberian
border, raised wonder here today
whether Tokyo is preparing to
strike without warning against
Vladivostok, RuSsia's Siberian cita-
del and chief eastern port, as it
struck against Hawaii.
Mr.. Litvinoff brought the news
Of the japanese troop movement to
President Roosevelt and Secretary
of State Hull, who received from
him strong assurances that the U.
S. S. R. was with this Country to
the finish in the fight against Ger
many and Italy. However, the Am
bassador left the problem of the
future course of RusSia's relations
with Japan a question.
Japan has take no action against
Russia and Russia has taken no
action against Japan" the Ambas-
sador told neWspapermen at the
State Department. The non-ag-
gression pact negotiated by Japan
with Russia early this year before
the German attack on the Soviets
still stands.
Soviet-Jap War Expected.
Diplomatic friends of Russia said
they expected a Russian-Japanese
war when RussiaS western front,
where the Soviet confronts Ger
many, Italy, Rumania. Hungary and
III l.
A European colonel recently ar
rived from Europe reported the gen.
eral military expectation that the
Axis troops in Western Russia
would retire to such Russian cities
as Kiev and Minsk 'and Tallinn
from their advance lines for the
sake of winter shelter.
These cities are in ruins, but they
afford more shelter than the steppes
from the cold.
The arrival of Mr.. Litvinoff at
the State Department yesterday was
preceded by an extraordinary an
nouncement from Mr.. Hull testify
ing to this country's complete con-
fidence in the future course OF Rus
sian cooperation with the United
States. The American Government
was interested in knocking down an
earlier published report that Wash
ington feared lest Russia might
come to an agreement with Ger
many that would mean the end of
Russian participation in the war.
Recalls Presidents Statement
"I am receiving the Soviet Am
bassador this afternoon for a gen.
eral interchange of information,
Mr.. Hull declared. THE Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics have been
waging an heroic struggle against
the powerful attack so treacherously
made upon them by the common en-
envy of all free peoples in the world.
I'm this connection I would re-
mind everyone of the remark of
the President of the United States
when he received the newly arrived
Soviet Ambassador on December 8, |
1941. which was also the date of our
declaration of war with Japan.
"On this occasion the President !
gave assurances that it was the
firm intention of the Government
of the United States to carry out |
its program of aid to the Soviet |
Union in the conduct of the strug- |
gle in which they are engaged.
Talks Half-Hour with Hull
"The events of the last few hours
have re-enforced this determination
and we for our part have no doubt
that the government and the people
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics will do their full part in
standing side by side with all lib
erty-loving people against the COM
mon menace"
Mr.. Hull issued that statement at
$50 pm, and at 4 o'clock Mr.. Lit
vinoff, wearing black ambassa-
dorial hat bought in Washington
since his arrival here Sunday and
dressed in the conventional morn
ing coat of diplomacy, arrived at
the State Department.
He spent half an hour with Mr..
Welles and half an hour with Mr..
Hull He disclosed that he had been
an hour and half at the State De-
partment for talk with Mr.. Hop
kins, during which he saw the
President casually" as he put 1t.
1--WE have a common cause, q
common fight" Mr.. Litvinoff told
ynrcpo norman