Eastward Moscow, Aug. 5.
Extensive Soviet troop movements toward the east were reported last night by travel-Jers arriving here on the Trans-'Siberian Railway. Diplomatic quarters regarded the report as 4 tacit commentary on reports that Japan might join the Italo-German military alliance.
Russian quarters were not surprised by the communique issued by the Japanese ambassadors to Berlin and Rome in Cernobbio, Italy," yesterday. The Government - controlled press has often predicted here that Japan would join the Rome-Berlin military pact-—United Press. many at present, The reaction in Moscow and Washington might be uncomfortably powerful, it 1s suggested, There was a good deal of disap. pointment here when Japan agreed {fo negotiate with Great Britain about Tientain, but it was thought that the denunciation by America of her trade pact with Japan might bring Tokyo. back to the Axis,"
Well-informed "Japanese circles in London believe that Japan will not join the Axis for the obvious reason that she has nothing to gain and much to lose by committing herself to participate in European wrangles, Reuter. to exploit it at leisure. If war should. break out between Great Britain and, Japan, their position in Europe. will at once become easier and. their Aiplomaey correspondingly stronger. On the other hand, if they become Japan's allies, they will run the risk of finding themselves at war with Great Britain at a moment which may not suit them. Tt seems likely that if a triple alliance is realized, the treaty will be garnished with plenty of loopholes to safeguard the European Powers from being committed too far—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.