Evening star., 1941-04-16
Takes Optimistic View
Of Far East Pact
Doubts Intended Threat to
America in New
Russo-Juponese Treaty
BIZ Walter Durdnty.


Russo-Japanese treaty, it is impossible
to ignore the significance of Joseph
Stains gesture in personally bidding
farewell to Japanese Foreign Minister
Yosuke Matsuoka at the Moscow rail-
road station.
Although no recluse behind the Krem-
lin battlements, Stain never before has
shown such marked evidence of good
will, which also emphasized his earlier
reception of Matsuoka on the latters
westward journey.
The Japanese and the Russians, too,
will have full Oriental appreciation of
this unusual courtesy, which seems to
set the seal of warm friendship upon
the diplomatic document.
The Russo-Japanese agreement is
hailed here, with perhaps excessive en-
thusiasm, as "a turning point in jap
anese-Soviet relations" and as an indi-
cation that the~barometer between the
two countries henceforth is "set fair"
1t is certainly personal triumph for
Matsuoka and a somewhat needed re-
enforcement of the position of the
Konoye cabinet, whose difficulties, al
though not overwhelming, were consid-
erable.
1t is interesting to note that the agree
ment is one of neutrality only and con-
tains no references to friendship in the
event of a future conflict with third
parties, such as was mentioned in the
Soviet pacts with Germany and with
Yugoslavia. There is, however, an exact
repetition Of phrase in the Molotoff-
Ribbentrop agreement. "in case either of
the contracting parties becomes the OBJ
ject of military action This might be
applied to such action as Germany took
against Poland so shortly after the
aforesaid pact was signed, which clearly
had an offensive character.
1t therefore appears that Japan
pledges its neutrality, should the Rus
ssians find it necessary to undertake de
fensive offensive" action against Ger
many and still more so If Russia is at
tackled by Germany. This involves cer-
tain Inconsistencies with the Japanese
German-Italian tripartite agreement
signed last September. That agreement
requires Japanese intervention should
any hitherto neutral power attack Ger
many, but the new agreement absolves
Japan from this obligation if Germany
takes the first step against Russia and
leaves the matter somewhat open-for
Japanese nterpretation-should Russia
become the "object of military action"
by Germany even in the unlikely event
of such action being ostensibly initiated
by the Russians.
Although it is fairly evident that in
ternal considerations contributed much
to the Japanese desire for this agree
ment-and perhaps external matters
also-it is somewhat less apparent why
the Russians entered the contract whose
initiative undoubtedly came from Japan.
First, I think 1t must be taken for
granted that the agreement is really
what it is purported to be-namely.
treaty of strict neutrality without secret
clauses or devious hocus-pocus. I mean
that such important questions as Soviet
relations with the Chungking govern
ment or Soviet transit facilities across
the former Chinese Eastern railroad
now virtually barred to Soviet traffic
the fisheries discussion and, for that
matter, the actual elimination of Mon
golian-Manchurian frontiers have not
formed part of the agreement, but will
be left for future settlement.
True, such settlements may be eased
by the establishment of this treaty and,
of course, by the virtual recognition of
Manchukuo by the U. S. S. R. But the
Russians remain entirely free to con-
tinue whatever policy they choose to-
ward Chungking although it would seem
at first sight that the agreement will be
unwelcome news for Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek.
1t may be suggested in some quarters
that the Russians are deliberately giving
Japan a free hand for southwark ex-
pansion and that the treaty, therefore,
is an anti-American gesture on the part
of the Soviet.
believe it is reasonable to suppose
the Russians simply are clearing their
skirts eastward in order to be better
prepared for possible struggle in the
west. I know that the maintenance of
peace and neutrality is the keynote of
Soviet policy-which makes the agree
ment with Japan a natural logical act
but the Russians are not sure and
cannot be sure whether circumstances
beyond their control some day may not
involve them in hostilities with Ger
many.
Although the Germans seem inclined
to put the best face on the agreement
and suggest it may react against Anglo
American interests in the Far East, they
had to see that such an agreement with
the U. S. S. r. would warrant Japan's
risking a dangerous conflict in the south
Pacific.
Recent Soviet diplomatic action and
notes indicate pretty clearly dissatisfac-
ton over the German conquest of the
the Russians never expressed it directly
and are unlikely to make any change
in their economic or political relations
with Germany.
I think, too, the Soviet feels that the
American attitude is now sufficiently
we'll defined to make it desirable for
the Soviet to show it really is neutral
rather than Germany's ally. Russians
have no delusions about the true strength
of the United States and have not for
potten that Ianin'S ma ior error WAS