Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1941. MR MATSUOKA’S WAR TALK.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1941. MR MATSUOKA’S WAR TALK.

statesmen in Japan or elsewhere have ever spoken in more bellicose terms t-han those used by the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Matsuoka) in a speech reported yestert]ay_one in which he declared that “it was preposterous for the United States to say that it was impudent for Japan to dominate the Western Pacific.” and that “friendship between the United States and Japan was not possible so long as the United States regarded China as part of her first line of defence and did not confine her interest to the Eastern Pacific. In view of this sabre-rattling talk it is rather surprising to be told in a New A ork message that Mr Matsuoka is included, with the Japanese Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, in a group of national loaders who wish to see rhe result of an attempted invasion of Britain by Germany, and to that extent are holding out against another group which favours action. For the sake of continued peace in tin l Pacific it must be hoped that a measure of prudence will continue to influence Japanese policy. However events may turn in that respect, however, it is sufficiently clear that there can be no compromise, over such issues as were raised by Mr Matsuoka. His claim that Japan, Germany and Italy are trying to create a more just and righteous world can excite nothing else than indignation mingled with derision. The kind of just and righteous world the Axis Powers, as they are at present ruled, desire to create, may be seen in Poland. Czechoslovakia and other parts ol Europe and in China. What Mr Matsuoka claimed in sounding periods was nothing else than unchecked licence in the practice of international brigandage and the enslavement of other nations. In advancing these claims, Mr Matsuoka exhibits a certain consistency. His first important public task was. in the words of an American commentator, that of tiding “spadework for the -Japanese conquest of Manchuria in 1931." Afterwards he headed the delegation to Geneva which rejected and defied the condemnation by the League of Nations of his country’s act of aggression against China. He was then, for a number of years, president of the South Manchuria Railway Company. Since he took office under Prince Konoye in March last year he has come into prominence as the expositor of the “Greater East Asia" policy, which includes aggressive, but vaguely defined aims of expansion to Hie south. One of Mr Matsuoka’s observations in his latest speech was 1 hat: — Americans had the erroneous impression that Japan was exhausting her national power. Il was essential io show that nothing was so far from the truth In the sense that Japan is still eapiible of engaging in ni*>r** extended warfare than she has yet undertaken, her Foreign Minister’s statement may stand. Japan is possessed, for insiance, of a powerful Navy, though one that has never pitted itself against a first-class opponent. No denial, however. can dispose of the wcll-establishcd fact that Japan is wasting and exhausting her national resources in war and in preparation for further war, A! tempi ing to carry into effect th** ambitious schemes of naval warfare of which a considerable parade Ims been mud” of late in Tokio, sin* would become dependent at mice mi what, reserves she has been able to accumulate of oil and oflu-r Vital materials. Observing no! long ago that the single factor of oil might be derisive in a eonflict in tin- I’aeific, mt American e<nnmentaior added that an tnnbrmik of hostilities would cut off Japan's normal supplies from the United .States and th** Dutch 1 ndies, mid her Navy would have to operate largelv on reserves lair.grange fighting would cut rapidly into available • tockt- China might ‘•.trike with redoubled vigour again-:, her Japanv'c invader: to create a diversion. Even a quick J.ipam-’i- ouiqut I of the Dutch Islands would not necessarily mem. immediate <>>! ruhc' for the Dutch are known to have prepared to demolish ~ h<-ir v,<IE mid store production. While it is no* in doubt li.at as a b*‘l!igereni Japan could ctig.'igc in •orin b. lit bl' 1 ri'inin**!''-**-raid.ng ami olln.-r a*-l i\.! w- in the I’.’icilie. there is every reason to believe that nr c’loTin-/ if” war she would invi'e o’.-erv.'h**!!*itng tmtioimi d sas!<-r I ii.. i ‘.itlire of she situation as it stands umt u s ■■■ <■! -p.-e<-i>»-s like that of Mr Matsuoka and that of the Navy M;ner !*■ ported tod.iv. Japan still holds bm-k troiu making Ihr L-fad plunge. Nome sigils iu' trimtittng appear even in ;h*.Minister's ohs.-rs atom'- H” U:i< .. t <mlld.ii’! .dm- p.i- '■ ' instani'*’. to detim* th*’ runiiitmns in uliwh J.p w. :<j ■ u h*-r Axis allies in the v..ir, but, as h*> is reported, mad*' in. refcr.-tire wlm’ever to the fm-t ’h; ’ th” I'm!-,} S‘ates, ut.Jmpresell' doing much ” to e!ls>;:-e ! !;>• d<*t”.‘ the Axis than it could do for a considerable tun” .: .t ‘ ,i belhgee.-jp