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China's Central Government has a fairly stable grip only on the short southwest leg of Manchuria bordering the railroad from Shanhaikwan to Mukden; its hold on the cities of Changchun and Mukden is only nominal and by charity of the Russians. Fifteen thousand National troops in the western outskirts of Mukden are confined to their barracks by their commanders to avoid the chance of "incidents" with the Russians, who one night this week concluded tank maneuvers in front of the Chinese 25th Division barracks by firing a volley over the barracks, and then departing. Soviet planes have fired on U.S. planes patrolling in the Port Arthur-Dairen area, and Moscow has informed Washington that no U.S. plane may come within twelve miles of the coast without permission.
The Chinese Central Government and the Chinese Communists are still warring in Manchuria. Confusion and local control are the order of the day. The National Army commander says flatly that the Russians are aiding the Communists. The Russians contend that they cannot tell one Chinese force from another; there could be some honest confusion, but the Russians are smart enough not to be confused if they want to know the truth.
The Russians have taken what Japanese they wanted as a labor force. They have made efforts to befriend and propagandize Japanese technicians. Finally they will be content to leave a Japanese residue in Manchuria as a confusing and weakening factor for China to cope with. The Russians are not just leaving China with an empty house in Manchuria; they appear to want to leave it full of termites, too.