Evening star., 1942-04-26
Russion Porodox

Nothing serves better 70 illustrate
the paradoxical character Of this war
than the announcement that the
Russians have interned the crew Of
an American bomber forced down in
the Soviet Far East, presumably
after participating In the raid on
Japan.
Viewed in Its superficial aspects,
the incident is one which might well
cause considerable irritation in this
country. Russia is allied with the
United States in the war against
Germany and Italy. And it is no
exaggeration to say that the Soviets
are desperately in need Of the as
sistance they are getting and will
get from this country in their last
ditch fight against the invading
Nazis. In any normal circumstances
we would have a right to expect COM
plete cooperation from the Rus
slams, not only In the fight with Ger
many and Italy, but in the fight with
the Japanese as well.
AS must be evident to every one,
however, normal considerations are
not controlling in this case. Russia,
while engaged in q finish fight with
two members of the Axis, is anxious
to maintain her non-aggression pact
with Japan, and the japanese, If one
may judge from current Toxic dis
patches, are no less desirous OF main
ing this harmonious" relationship.
AS the Japanese paper Asahi put it,
there is no reason why Japan and
Russia should quarrel"
This is pious expression which
obviously does not square with the
facts. Asahi to the contrary, there
are numerous reasons why Japan
and Russia should quarrel, and the
strong probability is that the artifi-
cial amity prevailing between the two
nations will be swept away as the
truly global quality of this war begins
to assert itself. For the time being,
however, it is easy to understand at
least some of the reasons why Russia
and Japan are anxious to maintain
the forms of neutrality with respect
tc each other.
With the exception Of the Burma
theater, the Japanese advance in the
Southwest Pacific seems to have been
checked. Allied strength in that
area is growing, and the rate Of this
growth may be expected to increase
with each passing month. Thus,
whether the Japanese are contem-
plating further offensives or seek
only to consolidate the gains already
made, they must reckon with the
possibility OF an Allied offensive in
the not too distant future. Unless
they could count on registering a
quick knockout, which seems most
improbable, the facts of Japan'S mill
tary situation would seem to initiate
against seeking war with Russia.
Nor is the Soviet position greatly
dissimilar from a military stand
point. There is every indication that
this year will bring the supreme test
of Russia's ability to Withstand the
German onslaught. Within a few
weeks the worlds greatest battle
should be in full swing on Europe's
eastern front, and it is vital-to US
no less than the RuSsianS-that this
battle not be lost. Yet If Soviet re-
sistance is to be maintained, all of
Russia's strength. plus all of the as
sistance that her Allies can give,
must be available for the struggle.
Under these conditions Russia can
i'll afford anything that might pro-
woke war with Japan in the Far East.
1t is in the light Of these circurn-
stances that the interning of the
American bomber crew must be ap-
praised. Until the contrary is shown,
we have every reason to believe that
the Soviet government is merely liv-
ing up to the letter of its pact with
Japan and that the larger interests
of the Allied cause are being served
thereby. Of itself, Of course, the non
aggression pact means nothing, and
war may be expected between Japan
and Russia whenever either nation
believes an advantageous time for
hostillties has arrived. But If Russia,
by interning the American flyers, is
enabled to maintain her uneasy
peace with Japan, and thereby
strengthen herself for the great test
with Germany, there would seem to
be no reason why we should COM
| plain.