DISAPPOINTMENT IN TOKIO.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1940, Page 4

DISAPPOINTMENT IN TOKIO.

it is reported to have awakened pessimism in Italy and certainly 'will not give pleasure in Hitlerian circles, the re-election of President Roosevelt is said to be regarded with disappointment in Tokio “on account of a belief that a change and, reorientation of American policy towards Japan ■would be more likely under a new A.dministration.” In point of fact, an unqualified advocacy by both candidates of a firm stand against any attempted Japanese aggression was a feature of the Presidential election, particularly in its closing weeks. Appreciation of the need for a firm attitude towards Japan has become so general in the United Slates that no practical importance can be attached to the assertion of a Japanese Foreign Office spokesman that, no matter who is President, America’s foreign policy, especially in the Far Rast, must be reconsidered, because it was “not feasible.” The actual position plainly is that the outcome of the Presidential and Congressional elections has strengthened the hands of the American Government, and that the only wise course for Japan is to give due heed to that fact. As long ago as the middle of last month, a correspondent in Washington wrote:— It is emphasised here that neither the United States nor Britain has yet taken any irrevocable action against Japan, and the way is still being purposely left open for a peaceful settlement of differences—if the Japanese Army desires it—but that the United States and Britain will not retreat an inch from their efforts to prevent a continuance and extension of Japanese aggression in the South Pacific. Japan and Japan alone, it is claimed, can remove the cause for otherwise relentless pressure by the United States and Britain. The correspondent added that, the danger of an immediate crisis in the. Far East could continue to subside only if Japan abandoned her plans lor a new order in East Asia and the idea of a Far Eastern hegemony. The suspicion has been expressed freely in Japan (hat Britain and the United States have reached an agreement under which the Singapore base ‘would at once be made available to the American Cleet il a serious crisis arose in the Far East. J his suspicion is discredited by President Roosevelt’s recent declaration that the United States has •entered into no secret agreements with any foreign Bower. It is no doubt a reasonable belief, however, that joint Anglo-American action, both n<nal and economic, would he the natural replv to any extension of Japanese aggression. Japan, as matters stand, finds hbrself in a position of great difiicully, lint it is a position wholly accounted for bv the insensate ambitions of her ruling militarists and their ruthless pursuit, ol predatory aims. T’here is increasing evidence that the exhausting drain and strain of the war on China is felling heavily on Japan. Maintaining an army of something like 'a million men in the invaded country, she has suffered heavy human and material losses and has laid her hands on little enough ir, the way of compensatory return. Some of her militaiists are prepared to seek a remedy in new extensions of aggiession to the south, bril it must lie hoped that even in Japan this policy of running amuck will be rejected and condemned by the weight of opinion. A true remedy, if it is desired. must be sought in an abandonment of the reckless and unprincipled aggression of which China has been and still is' the victim.