Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1939. A NEW ORDER IN ASIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 January 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1939. A NEW ORDER IN ASIA

TWO Japanese political leaders addressed themselves the other day to China, and to the world at large on the subject of China. One of these spokesmen—the -Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr 11. Arita)—spoke in terms of gentle persuasion which might have carried conviction if it coidd he forgotten that Japan during the past year and a half has harried and devastated Chinese territories twice as great in extent as Japan and, by the computation of the Japanese War Minister, General Itagaki, has killed or wounded two million Chinese soldiers. This leaves out of account a great host of Chinese civilians who have lost their lives by bombing, floods, famine and disease. These and other counts in the indictment to be brought against Japan are fatal to every claim advanced by Mr Arita that Japan is engaged in creating a new order in East Asia, “in which China, Japan and Manehukuo would preserve their independence and individuality, and unite lor their active collaboration and mutual aid.” Mr Arita’s remarkable assertion that Japan’s schemes for' China did not threaten the independence or interests of China or the interests of foreign Powers obviously will not stand on its feet in face of what Japan has done and is doing in China. If any momentary uncertainty was awakened by Mr speech, it must have been dissipated, at once and conclusively, by the brutal and uncompromising savagery with which Japan’s new militarist Premier, Baron Hiranuma, addressed himself to the same subject. Like the Foreign Minister, Baron Iliramura had something to say about collaboration with China, but what he really meant by that term was made manifest in terms that leave no room for misunderstanding. I hope (he said, as he is reported) the Chinese realise that this is for the purpose of enabling co-operation. If they fail to understand, we will have no alternative but to exterminate them. It is, of course, obvious enough that the only collaboration Japan seeks' from China is that which a master may obtain from a slave. As a servile State, controlled nominally by a puppet government and actually in every detail by Japan, Manehukuo no doubt is an excellent example of what might be accomplished, if Japan had her way, under the new order advocated by Mr Arita. Taking account of the simple and undisputed facts of Japan’s undeclared war, there could be no more ghastly travesty of the truth than to claim, as Mr Arita did, that his country is intent on co-operation and collaboration with China. What Japan has done is to convert a considerable part of China into a shambles and to wreck and destroy much of her economic organisation. These things have been possible because Japan is effectively dominated and ruled by a militarist autocracy ruthlessly intent on conquest. With the facts so well established, it is remarkable that any Japanese politician should attempt to gloss them over, and even endeavour to impart to them an aspect of idealism. The principal question of practical interest where the Far Eastern situation is concerned is whether Japan is likely Io he able to pursue her designs of conquest to a successful conclusion. That question cannot yet be answered. The Japanese armies have gained victories in all the area of Eastern China between Peking and Canton, and westward to Hankow, and are masters of the cities and communications of that vast territory. On the other hand, Cliiang Kai-shek is still at the head of armed forces of considerable strength and account has Io be taken also of active operations by Chinese guerillas throughout a great part, of the occupied territory. It is by no means certain that Chinese resistance, as it is now organised, can be broken by the mass offensive on all fronts and air bombing of ail cities for which Japan is said to be preparing. Controlling widely distributed and elusive forces, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek declares himself as confident as ever of ultimate victory and pictures Japan as “increasingly embedding herself in the quagmire.” It counts for something that. Britain and France have joined the United States in protesting strongly against the 'violalion of the Nine Power Treaty and the substitution of Japanese monopolistic control for the open door in China. Both the English-speaking nations are now giving some assistance to* China, though their assistance is not yet on any very important scale, and Russia is said to be making increasing efforts to aid Chiang Kai-shek, particularly by supplying him with aircraft.

Internal conditions in Japan are another factor about which comparatively little is definitely known, but which may prove before, long to be highly important. The undeclared Avar lias been exceedingly costly and has imposed severe deprivations and hardships on the people of Japan. The prosperity of the country is largely contingent on a free flow of export and import trade and at present that trade is dwindling. The late change in the Premiership anef the wholesale resignation of Ministers and Vice-Ministers which followed the appointment of Baron Iliranuma as Premier, in place of Prince Konoye, are suggestive of the difficulties that are being experienced in making headway against economic and other difficulties. Japan, to appearance, is far from having an open course ahead of her in her designs of conquest and exploitation.