Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1941. JAPAN’S POSITION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1941. JAPAN’S POSITION.

THE problem of Japan and the Pacific has loomed very largely in the cable news during the last, week or two. The aetua attitude of the people of Japan in regard to Germany and Britain has been to a large extent confused. Whereas .he average Japanese thought it was expedient for Japan to tie np with Germany when Britain appeared to be in the greatest danger, he has now begun to wonder whether such a policy was a wise one. By foreigners who have been long resident in Japan the opinion is ex,pressed that the populace geneiallj <nc neither pro-British nor pro-German, but pro-Japanese. W line there are plenty of militarists who are pro-Nazi there are equally businessmen who are pro-British. Many keen thinkers in Japan are already beginning to wonder whether Japan nas not backed the wrong horse, and that, though Germany ma\ gain some early advantage in the war, the end will spell disaster for that country which will drag Japan down to ruin too-ether with the whole Nazi structure. When the Huns made their big drive in France in March, .1918, the militarists in Japan began to urge that 'Japan should sever her connection with her then allies and link up with Germany. The leading statesmen, of Japan refused to entertain the idea and urged that at least Japan should wait until there was definite evidence that the Allies were about to be crushed. Subsequent events showed that the thrust into France in March, 1918, was the dying effort of a beaten nation. History has a habit, of repeating itself, and that is doubtless in a large measure responsible for Japan having in the last week or so adopted a “wait and see’’ policy.

Hun fifth columnists are swarming in Japan today and in every government department they have been planting seeds ol distrust as far as Britain and the United Slates of America are concerned, boldly demonstrating the power of the Nazis and the weakness of the Allies. These fifth columnists of the Huns have succeeded in subverting portion of the Press and even getting anti-Jewish drivel .published, although the average Japanese would not know a Jew from a Christian. The German Embassy is subsidising more than one newspaper, and German language students are scattered all over the country. In many parts of the Japanese Empire, Germans are already lording it over the. inhabitants, treating them in the same manner as those unfortunate peoples of occupied territory in. Europe. The hitter anti-American campaign in Japan originated with the Germans, and is being carried on by them with such aggressiveness that. Japan will, be forced into war against Britain and America unless cool heads remain in control in -Japan. Germany wants Britain and Japan to be at war in order Io weaken the Allied efforts in Europe.

If ever a nation gol itself into a “lough spot’’ il is Japan. It is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world. Its air defences are by no means adequate. Incendiary bombing, from Asiatic bases, or from aircraft-carriers in the Pacific, would set up conflagrations in Tokio, Osaka, Yokohama and other cities in Japan with disasters equal Io the worst earl lupiakes. The Japanese are faced with some very vital problems. The war against. China does not show the slightest sign of conclusion; the United Stales has adopted what is construed in -Japan to bo a threatening altitude, and the Soviet Government is quietly squeezing the Japanese in the north, exacting a concession here and a concession there. Japan has acquired Iwo allies, one of whom is useless and lhe other unable to render any practical assistance; and she has around her in a far from friendly condition three of lhe largest and two of lhe most powerful countries in lhe world—China, Soviet Russia and the United States. Independent opinion in Japan is that -Japan has no essential love for the Nazis or Fascists, or for that matter for any foreigners. A military-political clique in -Japan lias let lhe Nazis in and it is quite on the cards that one of these days the whole lot. will, be tossed out again.