Mar. 30.
Russia's interest in the Mao churian situation has not been very actively shown, That it exists cannot be doubted. Tokyo is clearly of the opinion that a good understanding has been effected with Moscow and that Russia is fully alive to the reasons which have led to the transport of Japanese troops Chinese Bastern Railway. It is admitted that some suspicion of the intentions of Japan has been expressed in Soviet organs but this is attributed to a failure to appreciate the "real purpose" of, the Japanese Army and consequently to share the knowledge Possessed by the authorities at Moscow. Judging by, the apvent smoothness with which japanese plans in Harbin proceeding, this might be taken to give an accurate picture of the situation. If, however, attention be paid to conditions in Russia and to certain manifesto tions" in the official Moscow press the problem cannot be easily dismissed. In the beginning of the present month, under the orders of the Government all. provincial newspapers in the Soviet Union reproduced a leading article from the "Izvestio" of March 4 in which very strong views of Japanese military policy were put forward and the Soviet Government was urged to strengthen its Eastern frontier defences. It was suggested, in characteristic fashion, that White Russians in Man: churia were being organised for the invasion.of Russ Special attention was drawn to a recent speech of the Commander of the Soviet Far Eastern Army at Harbarovsk asserting the pre-poredness of his forces to undertake the defence of the Russian Frontier against the "White Guard" invaders.
This probably means little or nothing at the present stage. The Japanese have made it cleat to the White Russians in Harbin that they. will not support any activities against Soviet Russia. Nor do the White Russians who fare painfully conscious of their invidious position which has been made all the more dificult, since the creation of the new [state of Manchukuo, desire to be drawn into any such enterprise. They have sufficient anxiety in the task of preserving themselves from the discomfort of being enmeshed in the conflict-jing ambitions of the four other parties interested in Harbin—Japan, the officials of the new State, Soviet Russians and the; Chinese adherents of the old regime. Moscow itself is not inclined to view the prospect of definite action in the East with enthusiasm. Precautionary' measures have been taken, such the removal of a good deal of doubt Chinese Eastern rolling stock and plant on the Railway, but that cane justified on_ the ground that, to a certain extent, the seizures are Russian pro-and were only in Man-because of certain outstanding accounts about_which the Soviet and Chinese Governments have been negotiating. Further than that Moscow {s not likely to go for the simple reason that internal conditions are unfavourable, The prevailing world depression has considerably hampered the working of the Five-Year Plan, apart altogether from its inherent defects. Such snee ses as have been achieved have been mainly with the oil industry which, owing to the richness lof Caspian resources, would be proof against the ' Five-Year Plan's most extravagant absurdities; and it is by no means entirely without economic sub-_ stance. Russia is in need more foreign credits, like other ffeountries in Kurope.
Germany fand Great Britain have been cly, in varying degrees, to credits in the desire to foster their own trade. Germany
that policy. Great Britain now quite unable to continue Hirmer in insisting: on guarantee Although M. Stalin still maintains the Communist creed with its collective system of industrial organisation, his Government has found it desirable to more elastic in development lof its anti-capitalist notions. has now expressed its desire that every peasant should own cow. Memories of that English Victorian "slogan": "Three acres and a cov," 30 lustily preached by Mr. Jesse (Collings, the Birmingham hench-
[cow's new or adapted philosophy. Indeed the possession of property has also been tentatively mooted. All things considered then, in spite of the "Lavestia's" hints, Moscow will probably be chary of adding to its difficulties, just now. The journal in fact puts the position clear when it} Jsays that the Soviet Government, "will continue its policy of non-are interfere se in_ developments in the interior of China, but. this does not mean that the Soviet Government will allow anybody, to invade the frontiers or capture even the smallest territory In other words, gazing with interest not free from cynical Jamusement on events ss_ thei unroll themselves from Harbin, through Changehun to Shanj hai, the Soviet Government feels. that it can safely play the wait~ ing game which costs less and makes direction of action, when: necessary, more and effective controllable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.