Japan and its God-like Emperor

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 7

Japan and its God-like Emperor

F. R.

FUEXOH.

Sir _How swift does the world drama unfold. We can f ollow the development of events with understanding through information made available for our use. A stranger to the ways of the Japanese might readily accept the polite bows and apologies as though they were evidence of siucore regret for wrohg actions. But to those who know, such supposed contrition may be adding insult to injury, for, if the bow is minus the correct degree of lowness, it may be an expression of defiance, or of contempt, or of loathing. In plain English, the repeated apologies of the Japanese for destroying lives and property of neutrals in their present inexcusable iucursion in China is probably intentional and audacious disdain of their military leaders. It is rnore than a pity that the cultured and clevet Japanese should be so misrepresented by power-drunk autocrats running amok. President Roosevelt has. demanded a personal apology from the Emperor of Japan for the bombing and sinking of American vessels with unknown loss of life. Last night's cable indicates that the President 's demand upon the Emperor is a challenge to the primary cause of Japanese aggression — viz., that the Emperor is a God, and his people therefore are called to impose their will on all other peoples. Professor B. H. Chamberlain, in his book "The Making of a New Religion," states that there is no ajithentic Japanese history further back than 600 A.D., and that the present Emperor is of a line that usurped the throne in the 14th century. The myth of the divinity of the Emperor and its concomitant Bushido (a word npt found in any Japanese dictionary before 1900) were deliberate inventions of the statesmen of the Restoration period which started in 1867. Previously Emperors were treated cavalierly. One earned his living by selling autographs. When the Osaka Mainichi — the Times of Japan — publishes: "Japan should subjugate the nations of the East and conquer the world at the point of the bayonet," when less responsible Japanese newspaper indulge in the widest of boastings, when even the executive of the Japanese Soeial Left Party tells the Labi -r organisations of the world that Japan is conducting a Holy War in China, and if anyone denies it then they aro Ihe tools of capitalists and Chinese propagandaj then it has to be remembered that such. a view is now the religion of Japan. Three years ago, several members of the Japanese Cabinet had Christian wives. They were forced by the great Rnd widespread reactionary societies, who work too openly to use the term secret, publicly to avow their belief in the divinity of the Emperor. Japanese aro arrCstfed for "dangerous thoughts," even when such are only suspectfed, and have never been expressed. Professor O 'Conroy tells how a retired Japaneso schoolmaster, his wilo and ten-year-old nephew were arrested on a charge of disloyalty to the Emperor. Though the informers admitted they had never heard disloyal statements uttered, Captain Amakasu offiered the old man a.cigarette and the wifa a cup of tea, and then strangled t'no three. After a period of detention the honourable captain was released, and the paper with the largest circulation declared he was a national hero. As soon as possible, Captain Amakasu was rcwarded with an important position in Manchuria. We are not so mueh concerned if the Japanese submit to be driven from tbeir businesses or their homes, beeause the God Emperor deigns to pass by. We are more concerned when this worship is forced on alien people, as in Korea and Manchukuo. We aro vitally eoncerned^ when this myth becomes tlio dynamic to justify any international outrage. It stifles common justice and ordinary logic. It demands the right for fche Japaneso to tr*do in othor lands

when thore is no hesitation in totally prohibiting any imports into Japan. It complains of the exclusion of Japaneso immigrants to such an cxtent as to er.langer the Versailles Peace Treaty when it was ready for signing, and then closes its own door to Chinese labourers. It interferes in unbearable ways in the doniestie. concerns of China, and threatens all and sundry who offer any help to the Cliinese. It has been marked with violence and bloodshed and continues from day to day, and unless there is a complete abandoninent of this fetish tho whole world is in danger. The demand of President Roosevelt will be a problem for this dangerous cult to faee. — Yours, etc,,

Hastings,, Doc, 16, 1937-