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Article: Stalin gets what he wants in Asia and pays a bargain price. (Originated from Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- January 27, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Postwar Europe was not the only region discussed at the summit held at Yalta in February 1945. President Franklin Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Marshal Josef Stalin also discussed the shape of postwar Asia.
Believing it would take as long as 18 months after the defeat of Germany to defeat Japan, Roosevelt wanted the Soviet Union to enter the Pacific war as soon as possible.
Though the Soviets were allied with the two Western powers against Germany and its allies in Europe, and Germany was allied with Japan against the West in Asia, the USSR and Japan were still at peace. Indeed, when Soviet spies had learned that Japan was going to strike ...