SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1943. THE CHANGING SCENE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 107, 30 January 1943, Page 4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1943. THE CHANGING SCENE

It is rather significant that the German people have been told that there is to be no special observance today of the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s accession to power. History has proved that a dictator cannot survive defeat, and it is significant of the train of events in the war that reports of speeches by Nazi leaders lately have stressed the responsibility of Hitler. the other day Dr. Ley, leader of the Nazi Labour Front, said' “Ihe Fuehrer alone bears the responsibility-for this war and everything that happens.” All was well while success followed success, but when defeat is piled on defeat then the position is liable to change rapidly. Mussolini was careful not to coiYimit himself to active participation in the war until the overwhelming success of Germany seemed assured. Then he acted, and stabbed France in the back. He wanted to be on the winning side and get some of the spoils of victory, but above all he wanted to play safe. Little has been heard of his windy boastings since the tide of war began to run against the aggressors. Similar considerations weighed with the Japanese before they made their final decision and deemed the time ripe to make their bid for supremacy in the Pacific. Their plans were ready down to the last item, and with French Indo-China virtually in their possession they had a base from which to operate. So they struck their treacherous blow at Pearl Harbour. That course would never have been taken had the Japanese entertained any doubt as to the ultimate success of the Axis Powers, but with success in their opinion already assured by German progress at that date, the military clique at lokio wanted to seize, as their prizes, the productive areas down to and beyond the East Indies When armed force is made an instrument of policy loot in some form is the real objective, and it was in the confident expectation of added territory, increased economic wealth, and extended power that both Italy and Japan rushed into the fray. But things have not gone according to plan, and there are growing signs of uneasiness amongst the Axis Powers and their satellites in consequence. Italy has lost her African empne, her people aie dispirited and deputations to the Duce ask for the restoration, of peace. The Nazis are said to be urging Japan to come to their assistance by opening a second front in Asia, and blaming the authoiities at Tokio for attacking Britain and the United States instead of Russia. But those countries were the ones which stood in the way of Japan getting the loot she coveted, and as one was hard pressed in other war zones and the other was admittedly not ready for war that seemed to be the moment for action. Plans in the Pacific, liowev’er, as elsewhere, have not gone as was expected by the aggressors. Ihe Japanese have found that their enemies intend to fight on, and with increasing energy. And now conies Casablanca, and the announcement ot a new all-world offensive against the Axis. From a territorial point of view Japan may not be m such due straits as Italv. in that she still holds large areas taken by force, but it is inevitable that she will be subjected lo the same gruelling test, involving her capacity to retain them. A front somewhere along the Siberian steppes might assist the Germans but it would weaken the Japanese bv distributing their forces over a still wider sphere. Moreover, a request for armed assistance in a time of adversity has not the same attractive quality as an invitation to take part m the redistribution of wealthy lands already under the conquerors control. Ihe need for help from Japan which Germany is apparently vainly seeking is an admission of weakness. Totalitarian States pride themselves on their realism, not their idealism, and while, no doubt, signatories ot. Axis pacts should he ready to assist each other they.place their own interests first, and those interests are wholly material. Japan, it was reported, was to have declared war on Russia when Staling!ad fell, but the strength that held the Russian city and broke the Nazi lines was such an impressive demonstration of force that it is not surprising if that section of any Axis plans will have to be revised. Coming in to help a conqueror is one thing, but war to assist those on the retreat is another —and much less attractive.