The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-13
Observations
Significance Seen
in Litvinov Visit
20 Kremlin
BY Charles p. Stewart
BY Charles p. Stewart

This column had occasion 10 re-
mark recently upon Russian Pre-.
mier Josef Stains pro-Anglo.
American tone in his May Day
speech broadcast from Moscow.
Now another chapter in the same
story is in process Of recounting
Itself.
Though his country is one Of
the United Nations. Stain, prior
10 that May Day talk, had not been
considered a very enthusiastic col
laborator with President Roose.
welt and British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill against any of
the Axis powers except Germany.
lie had been fighting the Nazis for
all he was worth but he had been
doing that in Russia's own interest
rather than because Russia was
aligned with the democratic Allies.
In fact. some of his comment
concerning the aid the Soviets
had been getting from America
and Britain had been pretty adj
Nersely critical of both Of them.
He wanted an Anglo-American Eu.
ropesn continental front TO takA
the German pressure off his Red
Army, engaged in resisting the
Fuemy tolerably successfully and
decidedly lone-handedly
Indeed. Stain was so outspoken
Cith these complaints as TO make
Washington and London regard
aim as a rather doubtful partner.
Then came that May Day speech
in which he patted Anglo-Amer-
ican efforts on the back unquali.
fiedly and pledged his own govern
menL to stand by them 10 the ulti.
mate limit.
F: D. R. and Churchill we're
pleased but puzzled. Had Stain
changed his mind? II so, why?
There has been no particular
signs of an AngloAmerican i'm
provement from the Muscoyite
standpoint
Had Comrade Stain received
tips from the Anglo-American cap
Itals of increasing United Nation
strength against the Axis? II he
had, they were included as one or
two Of those we'll known military
secrets.
Anyway. Stain completely read
justed the character Of his CONVEX.
sation. He said the Yankee and
British democrscies were perform
ing admirably and promised CO.
with them on into eter'
nifty.
Directly sfterward came the an
nouncement of Russian Ambassa-
dor Maxim Litvinoy's summons
from Washington to the kremlin
10 discuss things.
This development, in connection
with the boss May Day utterance,
certainly gave the impression that
Stains judgment OF Russia's re-
lations with its associates had I'M
dergone change distinctly lot
the better.
Stain would scarcely call Max
home simply to break all dlplo-
matte ties. He would have sever
ed them with no further formal
tiles. Instead. he left his ambassa.
dorial organization functioning in
Washington and London as usual.
He left Mrs. Litvinov herself stili
hostess at her husbands offlclal
residence on Washingtons lotn
street.
Next followed President Roose-
yelt's dispatch OF Joseph. f. Davies
In visit Moscow as a travellng
companion Of Ambassador Lit
Ninov.
Max and Joe Davies are eK.
tremely good friends. Max is Nery
popular in Washington. Joe Tor
merlv served as our ambassador
in Russia, where he was popular.
II looks like combination TO
frame IN an international union.
As matter OF guessing, what
will It be like?
Well Uncle Sam urgently re-
puires Russian hostilities against
Japan from Siberia. He wants ST.
IBERIA an air base for American
planes. at least. even II Russian
aviators only are to man them. Inc
want American aid YER
sus Japan from its own direction.
To be sure, Russia is not at war
with the Japs at present, but II
would like 10 be-if sure OF Eck-
ing them. The row between these
two countries is chronic, though
suspended temporarily.
Britain is as anti-Jap as we are,
but Europe is more Immediately
It's problem than It is Russias.
Can this, then, be the subject
OF agreement between US and Rus
ria-a second European 'front.'
by Uncle Sam in Russia's favor
versus the Nszis-in exchange for
a Russian second 'front.' against
the Japs?