p 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 delcrmined to resist the aggression, the Chinese government continued to oppose the Japanese, albeit hesitatingly.

p None of China’s appeals to the Weslorn powers for aid si ill fetched any response. In (hat context, I lie Chinese people were particularly anxious lo get assistance from the Soviet Union.

p 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 largo number of bombs, shells, cartridges, fuel and lubricants and other war equipment.^^145^^