The Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1940. JAPAN AND THE SOUTH SEAS.

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 6

The Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1940. JAPAN AND THE SOUTH SEAS.

Feahs that Japan would enter the war on the side of the Axis Powers have greatly lessened. To anyone following the course of Japanese policy in the last year such a development does not seem likely. Japan appears to have no desire to link up with any Western Power. Her long-range aim is to be the dominant force in East Asia, with eyes on the South Seas. Her short-run plans are to gain greater access to the raw materials she needs for her industrial purposes, the supply of which is greatly restricted in the existing circumstances. Japan at present is much embarrassed by her ill-starred adventure in China. From the financial and economic standpoint it has depleted her resources enormously. Her gains have been the occupation of vast stretches of territory which must he more of a liability than an asset. And the war shows no signs of coming to a quick end. This probably is one of the reasons for the Japanese pressure on IndoChina. The French authorities in that colony were unable to make any effective resistance, and the agreement that has been reached permits the passage of Japanese troops and gives Tokio the use of three airports. It is stressed that Japan is entirely without territorial designs in Indo-China, which, of course, applies only to the present, and does not agree with suggestions that have fallen from Japanese statesmen on previous occasions. The immediate benefit to Japan as a result of the IndoChina agreement is that it will greatly facilitate the Japanese operations against China, and put a further cheek on the arms traffic.

There is a feeling among some authorities that Japan’s immediate object is peaceful penetration to the South. A Japanese writer put that aspect of the position in this way: “The South Seas belong to the Far East, and Japan is Entitled to share the wealth of these regions, which Europe snatched while Japan was self-isolated. It is necessary to rectify Japan’s economic position, and now is the psychological moment, while European Powers with interests in the South Seas are pre-occupied.” There nro various definitions of the South Sea zone on which Japan is declared to have covetous designs, extending even as far as Australia and New Zealand. What, however, is of particular interest is the immediate future. The Singapore correspondent of the London ‘ Times ’ considers that with a formidable task on her hands in China, it is reasonable to suppose that Japan will be satisfied if her economic interests in the South Seas can be secured. This is in line with the comments of other students of Far Eastern affairs. Various arguments have been put forward in support of Japan’s intense interest in the South Sea countries, but it is contended that the real justification for»the Japanese interest is that the region is the natural source of raw materials which to Japan are a necessity. Some Japanese feel that, while they can secure almost all they require in this region, at some future time restrictions might be imposed which would have a ’ serious effect on their national economy. There has never been any serious likelihood of this, and Japan’s purchases in Netherlands Indies and Malaya, for example, have been restricted only by the ability of those countries to meet Japanese orders. The issue rests with Japan herself. If she embarks on a policy of peaceful southward economic expansion, friendly cooperation with Britain and the United States could be achieved with mutual benefit. If, on the other hand, a truculent attitude to Western Powers, with the obvious determination to drive them out of the Far East, obtrudes itself the position will continue to be disquieting. Whatever satisfaction can be obtained from the present conditions arises from the fact that Japan apparently is not being drawn any closer to Germany and Italy.