Evening star., 1944-10-22
JapS Seek to Lure Russia
From Allies by Asiatic Split
Diplomats Seek to Set Up Two Spheres of Influence
Barring Britain and United States as
Capitalistc Nations
By Constantine Brown.

IL is dlfncult at THIS time TO ngure out
whether the japanese rulers are very
naive or very shrewd. In either case,
they are attempting to play diplo-
matte game which will save their coun-
try from total disaster.
The japanese diplomats are reported
to have been extremely active in recent
weeks. Through the offices of the Soviet
Ambassador in Tokyo and the Japa-
nese Ambassador in Moscow they hope
to convince Russia that the United
States and Great Britain are interested
in Asia exclusively from the capitalistic
point of view, while Japan and Russia,
both Asiatic empires, are interested
principally in the social and economic
advancement of the Asiatic peoples.
While the reported attempts of the
Tokyo leaders to revive the 1910 Tokyo
Moscow Berlin Axis are not likely to
succeed because Russia can gain no
advantage from saving Hitler and the
Reich, the reported Japanese proposals
for a division of Asia into two zones
of nfiuence-Japanese and Russian
may provide good deal of food for
thought to the men in the Kremlin.
The japanese government knows as
well as the governments in Washington
and London that Russia has promised
her war associates to wage war in the
Far East soon after the European war
is over. Premier Stain is believed to
have assured President Roosevelt and
Prime Minister Churchill of his partici-
patton in the solution of the Asiatic
problems within a few months after
Hitler's defeat. He explained that the
concentration of ample Russian forces
soon as this is done the Red armies
would invade Manchuria
Have Japs on Run.
This promise of assistance has been
received with mixed feelings by the
American military men. While it would
have been highly gratifying and ex-
tremely helpful last year, it is Of less
Importance now at time when the
leaders of the American armed forces
feel they have the Japanese on the
run, even If none of our Allies comes
to our support with an effective force.
Moreover, in many responsible diplo-
matte and military circles there is
strong suspicion that Russias price for
sending troops into the former Chinese
province will be the complete control
of Northern Manchuria and Korea with
its important warm water port of Dairen
Port Arthur. which was Russian un-
til the defeat of the Czarist forces by
the japanese in 1905.
The Japanese. who have created the
puppet state Of Manchukuo and con-
troll it. are said to be quite willing to
give it up to the USSR at least as far
north as Harbin in order to bring about
an understanding with Moscow for a
division of the zones of influence in
the Far East. Such divisions would
permit the Japanese to hold the coastal
ports of China and might give them a
chance to create autonomous states
In the Netherlands Indies and other
sections of the South Pacific which they
conquered in 1912.
The Japs hope to realize this objective
by playing UP the following factors:
The deep political strife which exists
today within China; Russia dislike for
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek, who is
supported by the United States Govern
ment and public opinion, and the right
of the tens of millions of natives in
Java, Sumatra and Burma to have a