Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1941. JAPAN’S AXIS TACTICS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1941. JAPAN’S AXIS TACTICS.

WHATEVER the true explanation of her present demonstration of military preparation may be, Japan al present is emulating ami copying most faithfully the methods of her European Axis partners. The dissemination by one of her accredited spokesmen of an imaginative story of a possible British invasion of Indo-China and his explanation of what Japan would do if this entirely mythical invasion took place are worthy of Goebbels or of one. of Mussolini's mouthpieces. A statement broadcast from .Singapore that there was no question of any British action against Indo-China was hardly needed, but there is point in the added comment that “it was considered that the rumours were being circulated to pave the way for action by Japan.” This comment errs only on the side of moderation. Japan has already taken action against IndoChina which falls as far as possible short from conforming with anv decent standard of international law.

At its face value, the officially reported statement of the new Japanese Foreign Minister, Vice-Admiral Toyoda, to the Axis ambassadors in Tokio —a statement that Japan would continue to uphold the spirit and aim 01. the I tripartite Pact is nothing else than a declaration that Japan means to accompany to the end tin 1 vilest international criminals by whom the world has ever been afflicted.

Logically, Vice-Admiral Toyoda’s statement would mean that Japan is prepared to make common cause with the European Axis in every way —a policy which no doubt would include an attack on Asiatic Russia, with whom Japan only a month or two ago concluded a neutrality pact. It is said, however, that well-informed circles in Washington do not believe that Japan is likely to attack Siberia, but think it more likely that she will attempt to establish herself in Indo-China.

This last is the more probable since Japan has already imposed on Indo-China what can only be described as terms of both political and economic serfdom. Under documents which were signed in Tokio in May last, Japan was conceded various navigational, trade and tariff privileges in Indo-China.•Amongst other things. Japanese interests are to be admitted Io the IndoChina Federation of Importers and Exporters and to participation in agricultural, mining and hydraulic concessions. The Japanese-are also to be permitted to establish their own schools in Indo-China.

For many years, Japan lias had a heavy adverse balance in her trade with Indo-China. In 1939, her imports from IndoChina were valued -at 26,651.001) yen and her exports to that country at only 1.981.000 yen. 11 is provided in the May agreement that in future this adverse balance is Io be settled on an indefinite credit basis.

French Indo-China (a Shanghai correspondent observed recently) will, therefore, have to finance Japan's requirements in foodstuffs and raw materials, receiving in return only such quantities of Japanese textiles and other manufactured products as it can absorb—which are not very substantial. And this condition of economic servitude is to last until at least the end of 1943. This appears to have been one of the few concessions the IndoChina Government managed to obtain, as the Japanese pressed for a five-year term.

Indo-China, it will be remembered, had already been compelled to concede the use of its aerodromes to Japanese military and civil planes and to allow the Japanese to station garrisons at various points in its territory. There is now every indication that Japan is intent on rounding off this policy of aggression, and plunder by reducing Indo-China in all respects to the stains of a conquered province.

“Southward expansion” on these lines may present itself to the Japanese rulers as an attractive alternative to more extended and apparently more dangerous adventures in company with the European Axis Powers. It has to be considered, however, that if Japan, by blatant aggression in South-Eastern Asia, embroils herself with Britain and the United' States, she will be serving the purposes of Hitler and his gangsters at least as well as if she plunged directly into the war oil their side by attacking Russia.