Evening star., 1945-10-14

signing that treaty, he gave the ap-
pearance to the people of Asia that he
had thrown the Chinese Communists
overheard. Furthermore, by accepting
an American general of Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's type as the supreme COM
mander for the Allies in the Pacific he
further increased this belief that he had
abandoned the idea Of attempting to
communize Japan.
AS long as Russia actively remains
within the overall jurisdiction OF the
United Nations, she will not be able to
take any direct action in contravention
to her obligations. Her hands, which are
SO free in Europe-east Of the Rhine
are actually tied in Asia.
In order to obtain greater freedom
of action, these observers believe that
Russia must claim that America and
Britain have broken the solemn agree
ments reached at Potsdam; hence, Rus
sia would be completely free to do
whatever she pleased in the restricted"
Asiatic areas.
The treaty with Chang Kia-shek now
appears to be particularly obnoxious to
the Moscow government. 1t was ac-
tually initiated before Russia walked
into Manchuria and was prompted by
some positive advantages Premier Stain
had been able to obtain from the Ameri-
can delegates. AS result Of the Sino-
Soviet treaty, the Communists In Yenan
agreed to start negotiations with the
generalissimo but did not mind creating
as many delays as possible.
Chang Under Attack.
1t Is noteworthy that within 48 hours
after the London Conference became
"stalemated" violent attacks against
Chang were heard from Yenan. The
Chinese leader was openly accused of
having started hostilities against the
Communist armies and of having used
not only former Japanese "puppet'
troops of the Nanking government but
also Japanese divisions to dislodge the
Communists from towns and large areas
they had liberated"
American official observers who ac-
company the central governments
forces in all sections of China have
been unable to find any basis of truth
for these accusations. 1t is true that
In some sectors which had been over
run by Communist units, against
Chiang's positive instructions, the in
truders, whom our military observers
describe as fairly well-organized guer-
rillas, have been elected by force. But
nowhere, according to American inform
alton, is there any indication that
either puppet forces or japanese have
been used by the Chinese generalissimo.
Officially the Russians are living up
to the terms of the Sino-Russian treaty.
Only small amounts of surrendered Jap
anese equipment are being handed over
to the Communists surreptitiously. But
even the unbiased American observers
detect "straws in the wind" which lead
them to believe that Russia would well
come the opportunity to consider her
self freed of her obligations undertaken
at Potsdam concerning the Far East.
Moscow-trained Japanese-former pris-
oners of war captured by the Yenan
route armies-are back in Yenan wait
ing for chance to be sent to Japan.
This will be difficult so long as Gen.
Macarthur continues to enjoy the al
most unlimited authority entrusted to
him by the Allies. Gen. Macarthur,
who is scrupulously following the in
Structions sent him from Washington, is
determined to see that the transforma-
tion of Japan from militaristic nation
to a real democracy-in the western
sense of the words performed with the
least pain.
Macarthur Firmly Backed.
The general has proclaimed a COM
plete freedom Of speech and has per-
mitted the establishment of all kinds Of
democratic political parties. He has
seen to it that the Communists who
were outlawed in Japan 20 years ago,
are also liberated, and he will not deny
them the right to organize themselves
as a political party. But he also is de-
termined to prevent any coup d'etat
whereby a minority takes over the gov
ernment to impose its will on the ma
jority of the people, regardless of how
much it may be camoufaged under the
guise of democracy" In this he has
the support of his immediate chiefs in
Washington, and so long as he continues
to be supported by them he will remain
at his vital post in Tokyo.
1t is only natural that the determina-
ton with which Gen. Macarthur is
handling the affairs of this Nation in
Japan should bring on him a good deal
of criticism from the liberals" who are
following the Moscow party line. The
anti-MacArthur campaign can be traced
back to few days before Mr.. Molotov
pegged Russia's claims in the center Of
the administration Of Japan at the
London Conference.
Until that conference opened, Russia
apparently was satisfied with the setup
as Premier Stain had accepted it, with
out reservation at Potsdam. Mr.. Molo-
tov changed the Soviet tune only when
1t was evident that the era of unlimited
concession to all Russia's whims had
come to an end.
President Truman told his news con-
ference on September 26th that Rus
sian request for q consultative COM
mission in Japan was unwarranted and
he had rejected it. In the meantime
the conversations in London became
stalemated.
Secretary Byrnes believed that some
concessions in Japan such as the Rus
slams demanded might soften up Moscow
without. however, endangering our own
position there. In one Of his frequent
telephone calls to the White House he
,Iroed President rsy,,y,op ~ o,,+1,c~;r.