JAPAN FANS THE FLAMES OF WAR
Diplomatic Battles Before World War II - Chapter IV
The Chinese
People Aided Only by the USSR in Their Struggle Against Japanese
Aggression
The situation
in the Far East, too, went on deteriorating. The Japanese imperialists were
overrunning more and more of China, trying to establish their domination
through the land. Along the military measures, they resorted to some diplomatic
moves to force China’s governing quarters into surrender. Yet under pressure
from the mass of the people who were up in arms determined to resist the
aggression, the Chinese government continued to oppose the Japanese, albeit
hesitatingly.
None of China’s appeals to the Western powers for aid still fetched any response. In (hat context, I lie Chinese people were particularly anxious to get assistance from the Soviet Union.
The Soviet government invariably supported China
whenever the Japanese aggression was discussed in the League of Nations. On
January 11, 1939, Lilvinov wrote to the Soviet Ambassador in France, Surits,
who was appointed to represent the USSR at the session of the League’s Council,
that the Chinese representative Wellington Koo would be "somewhat
active" at it. "You will, of course,” the letter pointed out,
"support Koo’s proposal.. . Encourage him, promise him all possible
assistance. It is necessary to find out in advance the position of the British
and the French and should they, indeed, show themselves willing to take more
resolute action against Japan, we will not be found wanting".”144” At the
League’s session which opened soon afterwards, the Soviet delegation once more
went on record with all determination for effective assistance to China.
On June 13, 1939, the Soviet Union granted China one
more large credit (worth 150 million U.S. dollars) for the purchase of war
equipment. That credit sufficed China to get over 300 Soviet aircraft, 500
guns, 5,700 machine guns, 50,000 rifles, 850 lorries and tractors, as well as a
large number of bombs, shells, cartridges, fuel and lubricants and other war
equipment.”145”
Japanese Aggressors Defeated at Khalkhin-Gol
Right al’ter the defeat of the Japanese forces at Lake
Khasan in August 1938, Tokyo decided to launch a well-prepared invasion of some
Eastern regions of the Mongolian People’s Republic in the spring of 1939.”146”
Early in May, the Japanese General Staff received the Emperor’s order to
undertake military operations against the Mongolian People’s Republic in the
area of the Khalkhin-Gol River. “147” Soon afterwards, the first few Japanese
army contingents invaded Mongolian territory, but were thrown back.
The Soviet government came out in support of the
Mongolian People’s Republic. On May 19, V. M. Molotov having summoned Japanese
Ambassador Shigcmitsu made a serious warning to him. He reminded him of the Soviet
Mongolian pact of mutual assistance. “148” Speaking at a session of the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR on May 31, 1939, Molotov declared: "We shall defend the
border of the 253Mongolian People’s Republic—in virtue of the Treaty of Mutual
Assistance wo have concluded—with as much determination as we would our own
border.”149”
It soon became obvious that the Japanese intended to
seize a slice of Mongolian territory. The Soviet Union lost no time in coming
to the aid of its ally. A big Soviet army contingent was sent to the Mongolian
People’s Republic. Hitler fighting went on between the Soviet-Mongolian and
Japanese troops for several months. One idea of the scale of that fighting is
provided by the fact that the Japanese Air Force lost 646 planes in air battles
and on the airfields from May to September.”150” Within two months, July and
August 1939, the enemy lost 18,868 officers and men killed and 25,900 wounded.”151”
Having launched a full-scale counter-offensive on
August 20, the Soviet Armed forces, in co-operation with the Mongolian troops,
dealt a devastating blow at the aggressors. Hy the end of August the whole of
Mongolian territory had been cleared from Japanese and Manchurian invaders. The
USSR demonstrated its loyalty to its allied commitments.
The defeat of the Japanese and Manchurian troops on
the Khalkhin-Gol River did not, however, signify the end of the armed conflict.
The Japanese aggressors did not want to resign themselves to the defeat and to
cease military operations. The Japanese government decided that in the event of
war between the USSR and Germany, Japan would be prepared to take part
automatically in it.”152”
The Soviet government was informed of that decision.
So the situation on the Soviet Far Eastern frontiers remained extremely tense. The
USSR was faced by a grave danger of war breaking out both on its Western and
Eastern borders.
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