JAPAN’S FOLLY

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 5

JAPAN’S FOLLY

SIGNING THE AXIS PACT STEP OH ROAD TO DISASTER NEW POLICY FRAUGHT WITH INCALCULABLE CONSEQUENCES Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 2. ‘ Tho Times/ in a leader, says: “ As a result of signing the Tripartite Tact Japan has plunged on a course fraught with incalculable consequences for advantages which, even on the shortest view, appear negligible. Japan is already drawing every possible advantage from tho war in Europe. Germany is already making a supreme effort to crush Britain and neutralise the United States. She cannot do more, even to please Japan. “ The history of the last 20 years explains, but does not condone, Japan s latest act of folly and miscalculation. Japan began to travel rapidly down the road to disaster after the attack on China. There is a curious parallelism between the situation in Germany and Japan. Both have occupied positions particularly- qualifying them for economic leadership of neighbouring countries. Japan, like Germany, could have chosen the path of peaceful co-opera-tion and played a dominant role in China’s economic development. Japan, like Germany, lacked the necessary selfconfidence and plunged recklessly on the path of ruthlessness and domination. “ Japan’s progress in the past three years Ifas been accompanied by deliberate provocation of the Western Powers. England has not forgotten the brutal behaviour at Tientsin last summer, the arrest of British subjects in Tokio, tho tragic and suspicious circumstances surrounding tho death of Reuter’s correspondent, and the further stage of the campaign of intimidation. These things did not happen by chance, but were part of a calculated policy now extending to Americans. The Tripartite Pact marks a further, almost last, step on this path and seems deliberately to close the door. “ On looking back it must regretfully be admitted that tho former cautious Japanese foreign policy has been abandoned. China has received the pact with unreserved satisfaction, wisely seeing that Japan by deliberately courting the hostility of Britain, the dominions, and the United States has fully mortgaged the future and involved herself in the consequences of Germany’s coming defeat.” CABINET COUNCILLORS TEN NEW APPOINTMENTS TOKIO, October 3. (Received October 4, at 9.20 a.m.) The Emperor has approved Cabinet’s appointment of 10 Cabinet Councillors. Tho military representatives arc General Senjuro Hayashi, Admiral Kivokazan, and General Abe. Government circles and the political and religions worlds are also represented. Prince Konoye originally planned to abolish the councij. However, he reconsidered it in the belief that a “ wellbalanced ” selection would assist in the establishment of the new political structure. AMERICAN-SOVIET DISCUSSIONS MAKING SOME HEADWAY WASHINGTON, October 3. (Received October 4, at'9.lo a.m.) Administration sources said the United States was attempting to discourage Russia from joining the Japan-ese-Italian-German alliance. It was disclosed that informal Russian-Ameri-can conversations had been resumed in Moscow. These were reported to be a continuation of the Welles-Ournansky conversations which collapsed partly because Russia demanded more liberal privileges in the United States for Russian “ tourists,” whom the United States contended were very often Communist agitators. Washington officials felt that there was a greater possibility of success in dealing directly with higher Russian officials than M. Oumansby, whom Mr Welles is reported to dislike personally, so Mr Steinhardt, when in Moscow last month, was instructed to take up the conversations there. He has been conferring intermittently with M. Molotov, and it is reported that he is making some headway. The Administration sees little chance of Russia actively co-operating in combating the political and military ambitions of the members of the Tripartite Pact, but hopes that Russia may be persuaded to remain inactive, especially in the Far East. MISSION TO SOUTH AMERICA CHANGE IN DELEGATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 2. A change in the composition of the British mission to South America was made known when the Board of Trade announced that Sir Henry Chilton, who was Ambassador in Chile in. 1930-33 and in Argentina in 1933-35, will take the place of Sir Horace Rumbold, who was prevented by private reasons from accompanying the mission. It is also stated that Admiral Sir Cyril Fuller, who is Commander-in-Chiof of the West Indies station, is joining the mission as an additional member.