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advance
news
in
the wake of today's WORLD EVENTS
•
Russia
1
s New lnfluence With Jopan
While the world has watched the recent thaw in rela–
tions between China and America, the Soviet Union and
Japan have quietly been improving their own ties.
Russia is using the vast mineral-ladeo expanse of Siberia
to entice Japanese industry. And Japan has shown consid–
erable interest in this new source of raw materials, especially
now that she finds herself becoming isolated by Washington
and continually harassed by Chinese accusations of "reviving
militarism."
Plans for increased cooperation with Russia in exploiting
Siberian natural gas and oil have been announced. The So–
viets, in addition, would like Japan to build an oil pipeline
from lrkutsk to the eastern port of Nakhodka, but Tokyo has
not yet responded to this proposal.
Japan, which has to import almost all her vital resource
needs, has long eyed Siberia's extensive wealth. But Russia
had been stalling Japan's economic desires in Siberia for a
number of years. World conditions continue to change, how–
ever, and so does Soviet foreign policy. Russia has been watch–
ing the U. S. wa.rm up to the Kremlin's dreaded neighbor,
China. The thought of a Sino-American non-aggression pact
sends chills down the backs of Kremlin leaders.
Moscow, furthermore, has anxiously been watching the
growing rift in U. S. -Japanese relations. The Soviet press is
taking all opportunities to attack the U. S. and China as
being anti-Japanese. It appears that as Washington's in–
fluence continues to decline in Tokyo, the Kremlin's influence
will improve somewhat.
•
Behind the Berlin Agreement
Why, after over two decades of a Cold War stalemate,
has progress on a Berlín settlement .final!y been made?
In the eyes of most seasoned observers the decisions
reached during the recent four-power Berlín talks were not
really aH that significant, though they will probably go a
long way toward easing the tensions plaguing the former
German capital since the end of World War II.
One very significant factor about the Berlín negotiations
was
who
was doing the talking, not so much what was said.
The three ruling powers in West Berlín - United States,
Britain and France - did little of the actual negotiating on
the part of the West. The brunt of the negotiating with the
Russians and East Germans was handled by West Germany.
West Germany has come a long way since her defeat in
World War II. She is presently the most powerful nation,
economically, in Western Europe. Now Bono is making its
weight felt on the diplomatic front. Most of West Germany's
new-found power has been exerted under the Chancellorship
of Willy Brandt, the former mayor of West Berlín.
The Berlín talks are only ooe part of Chancellor
Brandt's
Ost-Politik
(Basteen Policy). Since bis election as
Chancellor in 1969, Brandt has done everything possible to
normalize relations between West Germany and Russia and
East Germany. An agreement over Berlín has been one of
Brandt's prerequisites for closer relations between his country
and tbe Warsaw Pact nations.
It is unlikely that Brandt's desire, however earnest, could
have been realized without a subsequent willingness on the
part of Moscow to cool the Berlín stalemate.
The Russians were unusually cooperative during the ne–
gotiations. They forced their East German partners to grant
certain concessions to the West Germans. West Berliners will
again be allowed to visit East Berlín and motorists traveling
the 110 miles from West Germany to West Berlín will no
longer be subjected to a search and extreme delays at bordee
check points.
One of the main factors responsible for the new Soviet
spirit of cooperation is the continually escalating tension
between Moscow and Peking. Historically, Russia has always
striven to avoid crises on "both fronts" - East and West –
at the same time. Hence the Soviet willingness to grant
certain concessions to the growing European Center domi–
nated by West Germany. Should an actual sbooting war
erupt between Russia and China, Soviet stcategists hope their
Westero flank in Europe will be secure.
A second key behind Russian change of heart is the
future possibility of United States troop withdrawals from
West European soil. The Kremlin feels that if it puts on a
friendly face, both the U. S. and other NATO powers will
be more agreeable to such a pullout - probably under terms
of an all-European "security" arrangement.
•
Sato Government in the Balance?
A combination of pressures from Washington and
Peking may well force basically pro-U. S. Japanese Prime
Minister Eisaku Sato to step out of office before his term
expires in late 1972. There is speculation that Mr. Sato -