Show Russia and Japan Sign a Pact SIGNING of a friendship pact between Russia and Japan Is big news hailed as such byboth by byboth bot both Moscow and Tokyo recognized as such by the foreign offices of the world The only trouble with it is that nobody seems to know just what it means It might mean that Russia is entirely removed removed removed re re- moved as a direct or indirect menace to Japan and that therefore Japan can turn her attention attention attention atten atten- tion elsewhere elsewhere toward toward ard Thailand Singapore Burma the Dutch East Indies or the Philippines without fear of a Russian attack in the rear It might mean that Japan is entirely removed removed removed re re- moved as a menace to Russia and that therefore therefore there there- fore Russia can turn her attention elsewhere elsewhere- toward Germany or aid to Turkey in defense of the Dardanelles without Dardanelles-without without fear of a Japanese attack in her rear But the trouble is that only the heads of government in Russia and Japan know just how much this exchange of promises means means- and its it's very possible that the heads of government government gov gov- government in neither Russia nor Japan are too sure that the other will keep his promise Russia particularly has no better reputation than Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many for lor worrying about keeping a promise or the significance of a scrap of paper This is just a guess but we suspect Russia came out the better of the two on this deal Japan by reason of this pact now has a good excuse for refusing to make good on her axis pledges by attacking Russia in the event of a Russian German clash in Europe Involved as she is in China and with her interest in expansion expansion expansion ex ex- ex- ex focused southward rath rather r than northward northward northward north north- ward toward Russia Japan will probably keep h her r pledge of neutrality On the other hand Japan cannot be sure that Russia will not denounce the pact if it should suit her purpose And the pact does not involve any Russian pledge to stop aiding China Before Japan can make any major move southward she probably would prefer to close the China incident incident inci incident dent and be a little surer that Britain and the United States will be so heavily involved in the war with Germany that they will be unable to too offer oHer serious opposition to Japanese thrusts Its It's hard to say just what the Russo Japa nese pact will mean in the future but its it's difficult difficult cult to interpret it immediately as a blow to the democracies It If may prove a blow to the axis definitely launching Japan on a lone wolf wait and see role in the Pacific while freeing Russia to handle the growing German menace as events demand Time alone can really tell the full story |