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Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1941. “ON A KNIFE EDGE.”

4 CABLEGRAM from \V;isliington yo.Merday, quoting American diplomatic opinion, stated that the situation in the Far East was considered to be balancing on a knife edge. It was added that:—

While the United States does not fear a declaration of war by Japan, it would defeat her own purpose to provoke one. Both the State Department and British diplomatic establishments think that Japan is at present in a highly excitable stale of mind and most likely to regard as provocation any further move by the United States.

The underlying desire here implied—that of averting, if possible. an extension of war to the Pacific in which Japan would make common cause with her Axis allies —is wholly commendable. It may be doubted, however, whether the state of affairs actually existing in Japan is one of general public anger and excitement and a readiness to plunge into extended war in the hope of satisfying national aspirations.

Tt is undoubtedly in this light that the groups and cliques ruling Japan wish their country to be viewed by the outside world and it is as little to be denied that they have had a certain amount of success in promoting popular demonstrations in Japan in favour of a policy of aggression. One recent visitor, while reporting many signs that the war in China, “and the feverish preparations for a bigger clash,” are telling badly on Japanese resources, at the same timb added that “in a general way it became clear, from a hundred details, that the Japanese nation is being brought methodically to a war footing.” The same observer added that, outwardly, every town and village in Japan is under the sign of the tripartite agreement between Japan. Germany and Italy. We found every movie theatre and many other buildings in Yokohama and Tokio adorned with the flags of the three nations, and the picture of Fuehrer Hitler is now frequently seen in the streets of Japan. No one can tell if or when Japan will take the plunge from her "little” war in China into the struggle wherein the Axis brothers are already engaged. But by all portents she is now definitely on the brink. The latest evidence in support of this estimate of tin l situation appeared in an interview with the Tokio paper “Asahi Shimbun,” reported yesterday, in which Admiral Baron Osumi urged his countrymen, to acquire a. good knowledge of the South Seas region "preparatory to expansion in that direction.” The Admiral declined to‘define “the South Seas.” but said: — The region includes countries whose mention by name would strike terror into the hearts of some people. There is no thought of conniving at outrage and intolerance much longer. Admiral Osumi is senior naval member of the Japanese Supreme War Council (besides being a former .Navy Minister and delegate to the League of Nations) and no doubt he speaks with great authority on behalf of the .Navy, one of the five powerful and privileged groups which dominate rind control the Japanese nation. Tim other groups are the Court circle, the Army, miro.'iner.'its mid big business. Each of these groups, a Tokio correspondent of the "Christian Neicriee Monitor" wrote not long ago. is powerful and deeply entrenched and all consider themselves above the masses. They look upon common people as feudal dependents. In addition, each group still insists on preserving its established rights. They do not wan; to be merged together nor merged with the masses. Beyond all question it is these autocratic ami privileged groups that are more than a little inclined in plunge Japan into extended war. The statement by Admiral Osumi which has been quoted— it statement plainly advocating savage and predatory war wherever the hope of profit can be discerned may be accepted as a characteristic utterance on behalf of Japanese autocracy, but not on behalf of Ihe Japanese people. Even the privileged and ruling groups in Japan may be expected, however, to find good reasons for hesitating to make the plunge into extendril war. They must be dull of wit if they du not perceive that the star of the Axis is declining—that the disasters that have overtaken Italy are an earnest of what is in store lor .Nazi G'ermmiv, am! that Germany, eager us she is to make a ratspaw of Japan, is in no position to offer her any help, • ’ll the visible tacts ol the situation in Japan, it might be supposed that there are limits, in any case, to the extent '<> which lie]- people will siilunii to enslavement and st ar\ at n -it jo order io prepare for mad advent ores of predatory war. With the war in China in its fourth year am! involving I io* m:iin! enanee in that country of a .l.ipmmsp army of upwards <d a million men, the people <»| Japan alreadt are being siih jcctcil to ever deepening privations and hardships They are being told by their militarists that if they will endure another len .fears ol extreme hardship, they will dominate tin* earth. lii the words of the Tol;m correspondent quoted above, this demand come;; ;i ‘ ;i time v, hen the cost of living is rising by from 3 to 5 per <i-m monthly ami when w ;ig<*.-. m milm’.i.i are dr j p.;..: It comes at a tune when Japanese youth are already > male; developed that reports indicate that only 27 per rem nwr.-urr up to ordinary physical .•tiandardr. The nation :*. ' ; get down t<> ' the rock bottom -mm., ‘a-no- jrv< I Youth-. ai<out of school to work in munition foe;.men a.-.d p.:L. ;.!<■ taken from homes for the •■arne purp* r .<• Multitude-: of worker* imported All are controlled a-. depender.*.' Such are ■.i!:<:.t l-'rom these and related facts. would appear t h.U i- is iniirh less Oil the "excitable state of mind" of the Japanese people than upon the ext-m v.LL-b fb*-y mni i>- dragoon.-d am! exploited Ry ruling mih’ari ' groups and cliquey *imt peam* and V. ...- ’!.■• I'aeif. dhp. nd I

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19410111.2.16

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1941, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,005

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1941. “ON A KNIFE EDGE.” Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1941. “ON A KNIFE EDGE.” Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1941, Page 4

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