Evening star., 1946-02-24
Russian Intentions in Asia
Cause Growing Concern
Future Activities of japanese Kwanetune Armv
Leaders, Now Being Indoctrinated,
Especially Worrisome
Bv Constantine Ryo,gn

NoG only would It's request remain un.
answered but further difficulties might
make the present Sino-R Russian situa-
ton more complicated.
High officials in Chungking are point
ing out to Gen. Marshall the fallacy Of
believing that negotiations with the
Communists have any value until they
receive the green light from Moscow.
And that light changes to red at the
slightest provocation. For instance, tho
so-called armistice between the central
government and the Yenan forces ap-
pears at this time to be mere fiction.
Chungking believes that unless it ac-
cepts the economic treaty" with Russia
regarding Manchuria more and graver
disputes with the Yenan Communists
are going to occur in spite of the So
called agreement for the consolidation
of China
The fact that only last week the
Chinese Communists demanded a
share in the administration of Man
churia Is indicative that Russia is max
ing all the necessary preparations to
| establish firm anchor on the Chinese
mainland, from which she will be in q
better strategic position to strengthen
| her situation in the Pacific.
A look at the map will show that
Russia is already in full possession OF
| the islands extending from Kamchatka
| to Hokkaddo the northernmost Japa-
nese island which the Russians demand
| as their exclusive zone for their occupa.
ton troops.
Macarthur in Command.
This question was raised at the Pots.
dam Conference and was turned down
unhesitatingly by President Truman on
the suggestion of his naval and military
advisers. 1t is said the matter was
brought up last September at the For
eign Ministers Conference in London.
But here, again, Secretary Byrnes was
not willing even to discuss it. He had
been told by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
that our diplomatic position was strong
since at Potsdam it had been decided
that the forces occupying Japan would
be placed under the command of Gen.
Macarthur, who would designate spe-
cial area for. each army at his discre-
ton.
The Russians did not insist and have
| not resumed the negotiations regarding
Hokkaido. But they have made it clear
| that Red Army forces do not wish to
| mix with other armies of occupation,
desire an exclusive zone of their own,
| and that the island of Hokkaido, which
is so close to their other bases, is the
only place where Russian troops would
agree to land.
Gen. Macarthur has warned in un-
| mistakeable terms that if the American
Government yielded on this matter, the
security of the Pacific and, by implica-
tion, the security of the United States
would be jeopardized.
1t is obvious to those in close touch
with the Manchurian and Kwantung
army situation that the Russians want
the leaders of the most politically mind
ed japanese army to establish a Com
munist regime in Japan. This is an
easy job, not only because Japanese Of
flcers are venal but also because they
are firm believers in totalitarianism, re-
gardless of whether it is under the white
flag with red ball in the center or the
hammer and the sickle.
Used Japs in Mongolia.
The Soviet experiment with a re-
stricted number of japanese forces in
Inner Mongolia is said to. have been
satisfactory. The japanese are proving
reliable mercenaries. Moreover, the
Russians have successfully handled
large groups of German war prisoners
who surrendered at Stahngrad and their
commanders who belonged to the once
stern and obstinate Junker families.
But so long as the Soviets do not
have base close to Japan such as Hok-
kaido, the inflltration of the Commun-
lists and the overthrow of whatever gov
ernment might be established in Japan
by properly conducted elections will be
difficult. 1t is true that Gen Macarthur
has permitted a number of japanese
| Communists who have been schooled in
Moscow or Yenan to enter Japan and
that they are organizing the Communist
party, which has been practically nom
existent in Japan in the past. These
infiltrations are inconsequential and
can not produce coup detat. But If
the Soviets establish a firm propaganda
base in one of the main Japanese islands
1t will not be difficult to penetrate in
the rest of the country. The trained
seals who formed the staff of the Kwan-
tung Army and the specially selected
groups OF soldiers who are now under
going indoctrination courses would re-
turn to the homeland and would be USE
full tools in any action to make Japan
another ''unfriendly state" on the pat
tern of Poland, Yugoslavia, Romania
and Bulgaria
According to his friends Gen Mac
Arthur feels that Russia can no longer
be dislodged from Europe From the
military point of view, she already con-
trolls all the most strategic points and
bases. For the time being Russia has
not been able to accomplish the same
in the Far East. She is on the way to
establishing her first solid anchorage
by Interpreting in her own way the
Sino-Russian treaty regarding Man.
chur1a and the chances are that she
will be successful. The Chinese gov
ernment, without the formal backing
of the United States, can not hold its
own against Russia's tremendous pres
sure. And It is doubtful that Washing
ton will change its present appeasement
policies so far as the Chinese mainland
is concerned
hi AK