Show I BEH ND THE WAR NEWS Threat Th-rea of Russian Might Bring Japanese Surrender SUrender By CAPT JOHN II n. CRAIGE Despite its tremendous importance importance importance im im- im- im to the shape of things to come In Europe the tho com corn of the big three brought profound disappointment disappoint disappoint- ment to ost Americans because because because be be- cause of at I its lack of any positive positive post post- tive Uve reference to Japan Rightly or wrongly a a. tremendous tremendous tremendous tre tre- tre- tre percentage of at U. U St S' S citizens h had d construed the march of events at Berlin Including in including tn- tn eluding the sending of ot the peace terms of America Britain Britain Brit Brit- am ain and China to Tokyo as In Indicating indIcating indicating in- in that the wind wind-up of the Pacific war was top subject subject subject sub sub- on the big three conference conference confer conIer- ence agenda Dispatches during the early days of or the conference conveyed the impression that Pres Truman Truman Truman Tru Tru- man and Britain's Winston Churchill were pointing out to Marshal Stalin the great aid that Russia could give her al allies allies allies al- al lies if she would come Into the war in the far east In view of at the fact that Russia Rus Rue Rus ala sia was saved from defeat by American lend lease munitions in the dark days of ot the war and was enabled to to win her final unprecedented victory over her naz nazis foes by the American- American British cross-channel cross invasion of Europe it was not believed that Marshal Stalin would hesitate hesitate hesi hesi- tate now to aid his former b bene bene- ne- ne factors The announcement at this time of ot Russian intervention Inthe in Sn inthe the war in the far east could not have failed to produce a tremendous effect on the Jap Sap anese With Japans Japan's morale I undoubtedly at a low ebb the threat of the red army's In fr- fr against the mikado's forces m might 1 g h t have brought about the Immediate surrender of Nippon At any rate Russian participation could not fall fail to shorten the job of defeating Japan Japan Japan Ja Ja- Ja- Ja pan by many months Thus American public disappointment at the of this great aid to our country's Pacific war I is easy to under under- stand This is particularly true in view of the fact that United States casualties of the present war now total well over the million million mil nill- lion mark and the main campaigns campaigns cam cam- for the invasion of ot Japans Japan's home islands are yet et to come While the failure of or the big three to mention any change in Russia's attitude towards Japan Is i Is discouraging to Americans it certainly doeS not imply that Marshal Stalin is permanently on the sidelines The savings in American lives and treasure that would be effected effected effected ef ef- ef- ef by Russian intervention in the far eastern struggle are very great Hence Henie Hence we may exp expect ex ex- p peet ct United States diplomacy to continue to point o out f to Marshal l Stalin Americas America's earnest wish for soviet aid As As' As Russia still desires J Vast t totals of l lend lease materials 1 loans oa n B a and relief goods this country's representatives representatives should have strong arguments with which to back their appeals Two sections of ot the Berlin c are pointed out by experts Id diplomatic language as indicating t that Ii 11 a t Marshal Stalin Is already swinging g away yay from strict neutrality in n the war with Japan One of these Is the Invitation to China to be represented on the tho allied council of ministers which with the Chinese at war with Japan can hardly be construed construed construed con con- as completely neutral The other is Marshal Stalin's congratulation of Italy for her recent war declaration on Japan Although the Berlin com corn left the qu questions of Japanese surrender and Russia's Russia's Rus Rue sias sia's entry nto the Pacific conflict con con- filet fUet unchanged its importance cannot be exaggerated as a stone foundation-stone In the building building build build- ing log of oC tho the new Europe that Isto Isto is isto to come out of the war Germany is to be punished se severely iC- iC verely and deprived permanently permanent permanent- ly of power to make war Rusala Russia Russia Rus Rus- sia ala and Poland are to share the reich's eastern provinces The Soviets seem to bo be conceded a practical protectorate over most of central Europe and the Bal Bal- kans kane What the United States and Britain gained is not so o easy to discover But there must un un- be many similar diplomatic diplomatic dip dip- meetings before all of the tho worlds world's pressing problems can bo be Ironed out Statements and opinions herein herein here here- in are private to the writer and andare andare are arc not to be construed as reflecting retIe re re- re- re tIe fleeting Ung the views of the navy department |