The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-04-13
Observations
Russian Position
on Japs PuZZling
TO Washington
BY Charles ?. Stewart

greatly like 10 have Russia go
10 the mat with Japan with no
further delay. American Navy
men. who are most Immediately
interested. agree, however, that
the Soviets' inclination to stall
or hostilties with the Mikado
is perfectly Understandable. The
Muscovites are recognized as suf-
ficiently engaged with The Nazls
to fancy taking on the Japs, too,
Just at present.
Washington nevertheless is eX-
ceedingly curious to get an ink
ling as 10 what he Kremlin's pol
icv will be toward Nippon il and
when Germany il knocked out OF
the box
It is quite comprehensive that
that's the principal question Pres
ident Roosevelt yearns 10 put 10
Premier Stain. al the conference
between them for which F.DR
has voiced such urgent hopes. II
scarcely is to be expected that
Josef will give an unqualified
answer JUST now. II he did. to
the effect that Russia later Will
align itself. il would amount.lo
an immediate Soviet war declar-
alton against Tokyo. still. he
might By trifllng oral infection
or the flicker OF an eyelid, convey
the desired hint and our White
House tenant il pretty crafty at
interpreting them correctly or
otherwise.
Russia and Japan are tradition
al rivals and enemies, to be sure.
1t shouldn't be difficult TO sic
the former onto the Oriental L.
land folk. II the prospect OF lick
ing them seems good
But will it seem so? The Japs
will be in pretty good fighting
shape. They haven't succeeded
in beating the numerically vastly
superior Chinese. but they have
gained possession OF lot OF Chi
mar resources and are better
equipped than the Russians along
the eastern Asiatic coast, since
that is where they have concen-
trated while the Soviets have
been tied up farther TO the west
ward.
II isa popular assumption that
Japan. while scrappy out of pro-
portion 10 the number OF its war
-fiors, is not intrinsically very
strong.
Its population is formidable. but
that has been one OF its Difficult
ties. 1t has been so large that
its limited insular production OF
raw materials has not sufficed TO
keep II fully supplied. Now,
though. It is fairly well provided
for by its captured mainland.
II the United States Army
could be transported bodily 10 the
western Pacific. it unquestionably
could make a rapid cleanup. but
that is an impracticsbility; II is
TOO far away. II will have to be
naval campaign unless air
forces develop beyond anything
We are familiar with yet.
And the Japs have got a fairly
average MAXWELL armed and
well manned.
The L. s. outclasses them a.
short range. but what We will
have TO do will be 10 send across
the Pacific into their own waters.
1t will be inconyenient, to say
the least. They will stay home
and their defense will he an OFF
ense 10 us.
1t IL the consensus, then, that
the Japs won't quit when the rest
OF the Axis does. As il is eXress.
ed. we will have "a war after the
war"
Britain has promised 10 10 n
IT on our side.
The trouble with Britain 10 nat
she, like us. is too distant from
the scene Of what has got 70 be
the conflict
VIII the Russians help the pair
OF us2
Britain's foreign minister. An
thony Eden, seems 10 think they
will. They don't altogether act
like II, though. They don't ap-
pear to be pro-us. anyway.
They certainly were not while
they were allied with the Axis
until the Germans attacked them.
Their philosophy is different from
ours. II is all right at present.
hut what about it when ultimate
resdjustment comes TO be dis
eussed7
That r. what remains 10 be