Russia in the Pacific

—Winston Rhodes

During post-war years, what happens in the Pacific depends on what happens inside Britain, America. China and the Soviet Union, and upon their relations with each other. Will the united nations remain united after the war and adopt a policy of collective security essential to maintaining peace? This is a vital problem to New Zealand.

In his book, "Russia, the Coming Power in the Pacific." Winston Rhodes gives a survey of Russia's far-sighted development of this policy. For one who is fairly ignorant of Pacific affairs this book gives a very clear outline of Russia's role in the general situation, and for the well-informed there is much that should be illuminating in the facts collected from diverse and intimate sources, and in the conclusions drawn from them.

Mr. Rhodes surveys the geography of the Soviet's vast East, her population and communication problems, and shows how they have been overcome by migrations from the West, and by electrification, railway construction, and Arctic ports and [unclear: seproute.] Huge industrialisation schemes make the country self-sufficient, replacing Czarist [unclear: metlfcflla] of extortion and exploitation of subject peoples. Planned economy, collective farms, continual improvement of living conditions accompany this growth.

Decentralisation of industries and vast networks of communication are a defence as well as a supply measure, and co-operation from liberated minorities and republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics reinforce these measures.

In defending the Soviet Union's foreign policy, Mr. Rhodes cites the release of concessions in China as proof of a non-expansion policy. Intense defence organisation on the Asiatic border consolidates the permanent boundaries and is mainly to oppose Japan's aggressive attitude. Besides maintaining inviolability of her frontiers and resistance of attempts to embroil her in war, Russian foreign policy stresses support for China and all victims of imperialist aggression.

The other powers must take this lead in reconstructing Pacific affairs. They must co-operate in opposing all imperialist tendencies, in building up collective security.

Our copy per courtesy Progressive Publishing Society.