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RUSSIA’S ROLEBy Jack StinnettWashington—Russia's declaration of war on Japan a few days before the Japs quit has brought some of the Soviets’ national color into the face of those here who rushed into print or whispered behind their hands that President Truman had apparently given j Premier Stalin everything he wanted” at Potsdam i without getting anything in return.It also Is causing some blushing among those who added Russia’s nonintervention in our Pacific war to other complaints against the USJ3.R.Had these persona paid a little more attention to the scribbling on the office of lend-lease walls, there would have been no occasion for pink faces. Nearly two months ago, I reported in this column that lend-lease goods in large quantities still were being shipped to Russia.It was pointed out to me then by lend-lease spokesmen that under the act no lend-lease was to be extended beyond the time It waa deemed vital to the defense of the United States.Agreements already had been made with. France and other Allied nations to terminate lend-tease when to become no i longer possible for them to participate In the war against our common-foes.When it was disclosed later that lend-lease goods were still being shipped and going on through to the Russian armies of the East, one of two things Was an absolute certainty:1. That Russia would declare war on Japan.2. That Russia would strengthen her threat on the Manchurlan-Slberlan border to pin down Immense Japanese forces that might be effective against us and China elsewhere.* * *This puts a different complexion on the Potsdam conference. Observers now are positive that Russia’s agreement to enter the war against Japan must have been made long ago: hence that the deal originally was worked out by Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. As a matter of fact, I am reliably Informed that Stalin gave Roosevelt verbal assurance at Yalta that Russia would enter the war against Japan.This shouldn’t necessarily detract from President Truman’s diplomatic accomplishments at the recent Potsdam conference. There still was the matter of confirming the Yalta verbal agreement and working out an effective time-table.Regardless^ of the postwar problems involved, the primary objective in our global war was to bring defeat to our enemies as quickly as possible with the least loss of American lives. Obviously, having the Russian steamroller again on the march helped accomplish that.• • •Already, it Is fceing said In White House circles that President Truman went to Potsdam with the same determination with which he entered the White House—to carry on the Roosevelt program of defeating the Axis as quickly as possible and at the same time doing everything possible to eliminate future wars.Bungled diplomacy In treating with the Soviets might easily have upset previous agreements and prolonged the war- Leaving Germany with the knowledge that our atomic bomb soon would be unleashed against Japan and that Russia soon would make solid the steel collar which was tightening around the neck of the Nipponese homeland, President Truman was ready to sit down and write words that every uniformed son's mother and father was so eager to hear—that the war was over.
Newspaper Details
Winona Republican Herald
Winona, Minnesota, US
Sat, Aug 18, 1945
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Caleb B.
NA, 19 Jan 2025
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