Evening star., 1942-10-07

Us sincere expression of his point
OF view. 1t is equally important
tnat the American viewpoint be
stated, and it is regrettable that
our officials do not as yet see the
wisdom OF expressing their perplex-
1ty over the whole course of Rus
slan-American relations.
For one thing, allies are supposed
10 trust one another and exchange
information frankly. If there is
hesitation, it gives ground for un-
easiness. Perhaps the officials in
MOSCOW do not realize the extent
70 which their hesitation to trust
American officials has created an
atmosphere Of uncertainty and
puzzlement. Perhaps the Russian
government does not know how pro-
foundly important Americans feel
1t to be that they know more than
they do about the whole Russian
military situation from Moscow to
Vladivostok.
There Is every determination here
10 send lease-lend aid to Russia Just
as there ts every desire to send such
aid to Britain. But the British tell
the American officials what they
want, when they want 1t and why
they want 1t, and they also tell us
everything they can about military
and naval operations 50 we can plan
to be of the most effective aid.
Siberian Picture Clouded.
The Russian government, doubt
less for reasons that seem justified
to 1t, has not exchanged informa-
tion that would be as helpful as 1t
might be. Thus our officials are
very much in the dark about the
whole Siberian area which at any
moment might be attacked by the
Japanese, leaving the Alaskan area
open to attack from Russian bases.
Is this really the way allies should
behave toward one another?
1t is understandable why the Rus
sian government wants a second
front in Western Europe, but do the
Russians understand how important
a second front against the Japanese
would be to our whole Pacific oper-
alton? Premier Stain has publicly
said that the American offensive in
the Solomons has been beneficial to
Russia by engaging the attention of
large Japanese naval forces. If
this reasoning is carried forward
wouldn't an American offensive that
could rely on Russian bases be Of
even more help to the Russian
people?
1t is almost an open secret in
Washington that our experts on the
Board of Economic Warfare have
had great difficulty in getting in
formation about the Russians and
their resources or needs for raw ma
terials Large Russian armies are
modified in Siberia. Are they being
supplied directly from the United
States across the Pacific, as they
should be, or are the Russians carry
ing carloads of supplies across the
lengthy Siberian Railroad?
Also, it is important to find out
whether the conveys which am 60
ing into Murmansk under such
heavy risks and at such great sacri-
fees are being given sufficient pro-
lection by land based planes in the
Murmansk area from the Russian
side. Both the American and Brit
ish escort vessels would have much
less to do and probably could aid in
landing troops in second front in
France If they were not engaged in
protecting the dangerous routes to
Murmansk.
Could Clear Air.
Doubtless there are good reasons
for all these decisions. and 1t is a
fact that Russian-American rela-
tions are growing more instead of
less satisfactory every day. The in
timacy that should prevail between
allies is beginning to develop. But
1t is also fact that much work re-
mains to be done and there should
be clearing of the air between Of
ficials, even If it cannot be done yet
between the peoples.
To put it another way, many
Americans would like to see Russia
open up a second front in Siberia
now-next summer may be too late.
It is considered by some expert OBJ
servers that blows struck now would
demoralize Japanese naval opera
tions and assist indirectly an Ameri-
can offensive.
p,,t II the Russians decline for