Evening star., 1944-10-22


The political situation In China today
is even worse than the military situa-
ton. Gen. Chang is opposed by the
Chinese Communists and the radical
factions Of his own Kuomintang. How
ever, the most serious difficulty he now
faces is Russia's dislike for his admin
lstration. The USSR government has
not had anything to do with him since
1910. Premier Stain has refused to re-
celVe him in Moscow and has refused to
allow his delegates at Dumbarton Oaks
to associate with the Chinese repre-
sentatives under the pretext that Russia
was not at war with japan.
While this argument may have been
plausible at the Teheran conference it
was considered absurd by the Chinese
In reference to Dumbarton Oaks, where
the organization of lasting peace and
not war strategy was the topic of con-
Versatlon. The Chinese pointed out that
there was no logic in the Russian pre-
text, since they discussed postwar peace
with the United States and Great Brit
ain, which are both at war with the
Japanese. This is a global war. Dum-
barton Oaks was discussing a lasting
global peace. No matters pertaining to
the present conduct of military opera
tions were discussed there either on or
on the record. Hence, they say, the real
truth is that the Soviet government
just old not want to have anything to
do with the government of the general
issimo.
This is being confirmed BY American
visitors who have returned recently
from China. The Russian government
IS DONG its utmost to strengthen the
Cnlnese Communists in order to control
Eastern and Northern China.
Moscow intends to apply it's latest
formula of friendly governments" to
all the areas where it wished to ex-
pand its political influence and wants
to repeat in China what it already has
Gone in the Balkans, in Poland and in
Finland.
New Army in Siberia.
CHINA is too large a country to be
permanently servile to the Moscow gov
eminent. AS a matter of fact, the Rus
slams are principally interested in the
areas of China bordering the USSR.
that is to say, the huge area from
Northern Manchuria to Sikian. The
regions from Southern Manchuria to
the borders of Indo- China are of little
If any Importance to the Russian En-
pire
Inc Japanese, who are well informed
OF the intentions of the Moscow gov
eminent and of the distribution of tina
Reo armies are aware that there al
ready Is strong concentration OF
forces In Siberia. While this portion of
the USSR was stripped of its main
forces in the darkest years of Russia's
war against Germany, a new armv has
been created in Siberia with Americas
lease-lend assistance in the last IA
months
The young men of fighting age in that
area have been called to arms. Re-
serves of the Russian armies are now be-
Ing trained there as well. A conservative
estimate places the strength of the So
Wet forces in Siberia at about 1900 900
men, we'll supplied with American eorip-
ment and planes. The population of
Siberia has been vastly increased since
1910. Millions of Poles, Balts and ref
ugees from Russia's former German
occupied areas were dispatched across
the Urals. While there are no official
statistics available concerning the total
population, it would not be an exag-
geration to say that the population of
Siberia has increased by at least
5000 900 since 1910.
Much Of the lease-lend material which
was sent from the United States across
the Pacific and has reached Vladivostok
unmolested by the Japanese Navy was
left in Siberia. New factories have
sprung up during these last three years.
and the lines of communication with the
country have increased at least fvefold
during the same period,
The Japanese are fully aware that the
Kremlin is following a realistic policy.
They are equally aware of the rivalry
which has come to the surface recently
between Great Britain and the USSR. a.
rivalry which at present is localized to
the Balkans and Central Europe but may
extend to Asia as we'll. Tokyo also is
aware that the present American ad-
ministration will not permit itself to be
drawn into the European political con-
troversies between Moscow and London.
And Tokyo intends to take advantage
nf thacp y,oic1r,dorct ~,
prevent Russia from becoming an active
military partner of the United States in
the Far East.
The japanese politicos want to exploit
the promises given by the American
Government to the Chinese that Man.
churia would be restored to them at the
end of the war and that Korea would
be made into an independent state.
Neither can the Japanese leaders be to
the taste of the Russians Wbo are de-
termined to establish theiI influence all
along the huge borderstbetween Russia
and China.
They point out that Russia's western
Allies who have stake in the Far East
wish the defeat of Japan in order to
continue the exploitation of the millions
OF Asiatics; that is to say, to continue a
colonial policy established hundreds of
years ago. The United States, they say,
does not hold exactly the same views
since it has never possessed, directly or
indirectly any territories on the Asiatic
mainland but wishes to restore a status
quo to assist "the greed of its capi-
talists.'