London, May 2.
Efforts to bring Soviet Russia into the peace front were near a deadlock today as the Soviets threatened to quit continuing negotiations unless Britain agrees to a three-Power military alliance. The Soviet wants a military alliance with Britain and France.
If Britain fails to agree to Russia's demands, the Soviet will make efforts to establish its own anti-aggression bloc among the Baltic countries, it was believed.
Britain is fearful that the extension of the Anglo-French entente might drive Japan into an acceptance of Chancellor Adolf Hitler's proposal to convert the anti-Comintern Pact into an outright military alliance.—United Press. vital to the interests of the nation under well established principles of neutrality.
Japan "Holding Key"
Some diplomatic observers believed today that Japan holds the key to the world's future as a result of the German-British rift which appeared likely to precipitate a new balance of power in which the United States might be importuned to join.
Japan, with her vast armies schooled in the field and her huge nova construction programme, it was believed' may be forced to choose between allegiance to the Berlin-Rome Axis and diplomatic independence, Entry of Japan into a Rome-Berlin-Tokyo military axis, observers believed, would produce a combination so powerful that most other countries of the world would feel constrained toward a common diplomatic purpose for their own safety.
If Japan remains outside, she might be able to prevent the swift crystallization of two great blocs. Some experts believe she is strong enough to play an unfettered role in world politics and to bargain not only for her own rational advantage, but conceivable for restored order in the Far East.
The United States' obvious interest in Japan's future alignment or nonalignment would be determined by the degree to which Japan might be come a party to world-wide "power politics" and the effect of her position on control of the Pacific—
United Press.
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