Evening star., 1941-04-14
The Russo-Jopunese Treaty

The treaty signed yesterday at
Moscow is an important document,
though its full significance depends
on the way both signers interpret it
and upon how much reliance they
place in each others good faith. The
text is explicit enough. Russia and
Japan mutually agree to respect
their existing frontiers in the Far
East, together with those of their
respective puppets, Mongolia and
Manchukuo. They further agree not
to attack each other if one or both
signatorieS should become embrOiled
with other powers. In short, so far as
words can do it, Russia and Japan
have pledged each other to neutral
ity and nom aggression.
On it's face, the treaty appears to
be a reSounding diplomatic victory
for Mr.. MatSuoka. Throughout the
present war, and especially since
Japan Joined the Berlin-Rome axis,
Toxic has been trying to get just
such assurances from Moscow. But
Moscow has coyly hedged, and is
understood to have demanded a
price too high for Toxic to pay. Now,
Russia has signed on a straight
status quo basis. The obvious deduc-
tion is that Russia is so disturbed by
German triumphS in the Balkans
and the Near East that she is more
than willing to freeze the existing
setup in the Far East between her
self and Japan in return for Japa-
neSe promise not to attack her If
she is involved in war elsewhere.
How this promise is to be recon-
ciled with a clause in the axis pact
regarding japanese help to Germany
and Italy if they are attacked by
power not now in existing wars re-
mains to be seen. However, Japan
has always intimated that she felt
free to interpret that clause; so per-
haps it never was as binding as it
seemed. Berlin processes to be well
plCdSC0 Will OL4C 11CW u 4CdOJy oLl@ OH
official spokesman there says frankly
that it means increased japanese
pressure in the Far East against
Britain and America.
That would seem to. be the in
evitable consequence. With its ex-
posed backdoor shut and at least
verbally bolted, Japan obviously has
a much freer hand for her desired
expansion southwark, and there is
at least a strong suggestion that
Russian aid to the Chinese may be
withdrawn. 1t will be interesting
to note the tone of Japanese official
and press utteranceS, now that this
important development has come to
pass. Recently, such utteranceS
have been much milder than
IN preceding months, and only
last week Premier Prince Konoye
stated that Japan's policy in South
eastern Asia was purely economic
and peaceful" But japanese spokes-
men have changed their tone SO fire.
quently that this is no guarantee
against more bellicoSe shift under
altered circumstances.
BY and large, the Russo-JapaneSe
understanding has disturbing i'm
plications. Anything which tends to
free the hands of the present Japa-
nese government, composed largely
of aggressive militariStS with gran
diose designs, tends to increase
tension in the Far East. 1t certainly
demands close attention on the part
of Britain and America, thereby in
directly helping Germany in this
crucial phase of the war in the West.
To be sure, it likewise tends to free
Russia's hands for action there, too,
but the whole trend of Russian policy
has been to keep out of actual war
while encouraging every one else to
get into the fray. From the stand
point of Britain and America, there
fore, the new development is not a
cheering one.