Evening star., 1941-05-18
Far Eustern ReuIpoIitik

~
Evidence is accumulating that the
Far East may soon see political and
diplomatic shifts fully as startling
as those now taking place in Eu-
rope. If these changes occur, they
will alter the respective relations Of
Japan, Russia and China in drastic
fashion.
Ever since the agreement negoti-
ated in Moscow between Joseph
Stain and Mr.. Matsuoka, specula-
ton has been rife over the possibility
of secret clauses not embodied in the
published text. Since then several
developments have occurred which
tend to show the existence Of a
Russo-Japanese understanding re-
garding China.
To begin with, the Soviet Consulate
General in Shanghai has been re-
opened and a regular service Of
Soviet merchant vessels has been re-
established between Shanghai and
Vladivostok. These things could not
have happened without Japanese
approval.
Even more noteworthy are re-
ported concentrations of the Chinese
Communist armies toward the
coastal provinces with no opposition
from the japanese forces which are
firmly established in those regions.
If these reports are correct, it would
clearly indicate a further move by
Japan toward settling the China
incident" on negotiated basis. The
deal, however, would be made with
the Chinese Communists and the
Japanese-backed Marking govern
ment of Wang Ching-wei, and not
with the Free China" government
of General Chang Kai-shek.
1t should be remembered that re-
sistance to Japan has been made
possible by coalition of Chiang's
Nationalists and the Chinese Com
munists who have always retained
their separate political and military
organization. This alliance has been
none too stable. Both factions have
played internal politics and have
actually fought each other on sew
eral occasions.
So long as Russia favored effective
Chinese resistance to the Japanese
invasion, the Chinese Communists
could be counted on to fight along
side Chang against the common foe.
If Moscow has made deal with
Japan, however, it would not be
strange to see the Chinese Commu-
nists cooperating with the Marking
government instead of with Chang
Kai-shek. Toxic has clearly indicated
that it now favors stabilization of
China on a compromise basis under
Wang Ching-wei. In this connec-
ton it is interesting to observe Wang
taking an ostensibly more independ-
ent attitude toward his japanese
hackers. Thus, every part of this
Chinese puzzle points toward a new
picture.
It is ironically amusing to recall
Japanese past pronouncements in
the. light of what now seems to be
happening. For years Toxic has
cried out against the Red Peril and
the spread of Communism in China
with Russian backing. Indeed,
Japan has tried to defend her ag-
gressive policy in China on the
ground that she was seeking to save
China, herself, and the whole Far
East from Communism. This argu-
ment was addressed especially to the
English-speaking world in an at
tempt to get Britain and America to
recognize and acquiesce in Japanese
domination of China.
If Japan now makes deal with
Russia over China involving encour-
agement of Chinese Communism, it
will be one more proof of the cynical
attitude which animates all the
totalitarian powers. Just as Hitler
and Stain metaphorically kiss and
make up after long years of mutual
Safeguarding, so we may soon see
Moscow and Toxic scrapping their
respective ideologies and doing
profitable business together. What,
after all, are alleged ideals between
totalitarians?