Evening star., 1945-04-06
Soviet Treaty Action
Viewed as Prelude
To War on Japs

A belief that Soviet Russia's de.
nunciation of its nonaggression pac,
with Japan foreshadows a later
Russian declaration of war on the
Tokyo militarists was widely helo
here today in administration ano
congressional circles.
Such a development, it was be-
lieved, is not likely until the COM
plete collapse of Germany leaves
Russia free to throw her whole mill
tary might against Japan. But
that day, it was felt, probably is
near.
Diplomatic realists long have real
lied that Moscow will want a part
in shaping the postwar map of the
Far East because of its obvious in
terest in regaining control of the
Chinese Eastern Railroad in Man
churia and securing a warm water
port on the Pacific. Japanese ex-
pansion in Manchuria forced the
Russians to sell the railroad at a
ridiculously low price in 1884, and
nearly 30 years earlier it had to
abandon Port Arthur after losing
the Russo-Japanese War of 1905.
British Hail Red Action.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press
reported that London officials and
the British press welcomed Mos
cows action as foreshadowing fur
ther difficulties for the already hard
pressed Japanese. The Daily Mail
observed that the logical sequence
to Moscow's action yesterday was "a
declaration of war by Russia on
Japan unless an earlier japanese
surrender makes this unnecessary.
Departing from the text of a pre-
pared speech at Harrisburg, Pa,
last night, the Associated Press re-
ported, the Earl of Halifax, British
Ambassador to the United States,
said Moscow's action would un-
doubtedly be blow to Japan. He
added:
Il do not think the new Japanese
cabinet will have derived much COM
fort from the message it has just
received from Marshal Stain.
Heavy Score to Settle"
I'VE, like you have heavy score
to settle with the Japanese.
He renewed Britain's pledge to see
the Pacific war through to VIC
torious conclusion.
In Chungking, the Associated
Press said, RuSsias action was be-
lieved likely to halt further trans
fers to China of japanese forces in
Manchuria, which face formidable
Far Eastern Red Army across the
Amur River The Chinese also
thought that the prospect Of war
with Russia would deter the Jap
anese from carrying out their
planned drive into Shensi Province.
Russia, it was pointed out, is in
position to make two major contri-
buttons to the Allied cause.
First, a Russian drive across the
Amur River into Manchuria would
engage large part Of the japanese
land forces on the Asiatic mainland
and greatly increase the drain on
Japan's already short materiel. II
the campaign were successful, 1t
would result in the capture OF many
japanese war factories which have
been moved from the islands to such
Manchurian industrial centerS as
Mukden.
Can Step Up Bombings.
Second, by using Siberian bases,
the United States Air Forces could
step up tremendously their bombing
of japanese industrial centerS. 1t is
little more than 800 miles-easy
range for Flying Fortresses and Lib
erators-from Vladivostok to Tokyo.
While the military prospects at
tracted the greatest attention, legis-
lators did not overlook the diplo-
matte side
Sharing the belief that President
Roosevelt exacted twin promise
from Premier Stain at Yalta that
the neutrality treaty would be de-
nounced and that Russia would
enter the war against Japan, ad-
ministration supporters advanced
this as a probable reason why the
President promised. among other
things, to back a Soviet demand for
three votes in the proposed world
peace league assembly.
It would explain, they said, the
highly conciliatory attitude this
Government appears to have taken
on nearly all such proposals the
Russians have advanced. These in
clude the agreement that each of
the Big Five members of the pro-
posed Security Council shall have a
veto on the use of force against
aggreSsors.
Qualms Over Parley Dim.
The Soviets will be able. now
that they have said to Japan that
continuance of the neutrality agree
ment has become impossible" to sit
down without qualms with the Chi
nese delegates at San Francisco.
Their refusal to do this created an
awkward situation at Dumbarton
Oaks, where the framework for the
proposed league was drafted
Official American reaction to Mos
cows announcement was summed
up in one terse sentence. The State
Department said:
The United States Government,
of course, welcomes this develop
ment."
Senators and Representatives
were much more outspoken. Nearly
all Of them saw the Russian move
as a prelude to war.
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee said
the Russian action enhances and
advances the prospects of a sue
ceSSful conference at San Francisco"
where the United Nations will meet
April Is to set up Al organization
intended to keep world peace.
Puts Issue in Clear Light.
The Soviet statement puts the
matter in a clear and convincing
light. With the japanese aiding
Germany, who made an unjustified
attack on Russia and is at war with
the United States and Great Britain,
1t is inconceiyable that the pact