Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1941. A CRISIS THAT CONTINUES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1941. A CRISIS THAT CONTINUES.

_s AN optimistic tone has beenjaken in some recent unofficial reports on the supposed progress and anticipated outcome of the current negotiations between Japan and the United States. The hopes thus raised are definitely discountenanced, however, by the American Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, in his latest statement on the subject of the negotiations. The broad effect of the brief observations in which he threw cold water on the reports referred to is to suggest that no appreciable progress has yet/been made towards agreement, and that whether any progress will be made is at best, an open question. Meantime the Japanese foreign Office has announced that Japan is to send ships to Britain and oilier parts of the British Empire to evacuate Japanese nationals, and a cablegram yesterday staled that a British ship is expected in Japan soon to remove British nationals. If these removals lake place they will evidently go far to discredit the idea I hat Japan and the United Stales are likely to reach understanding and agreement. it, has been repealed ad nauseam, and evidently is beyond argument, that, Japan will be guilty of a supreme folly if she makes active common cause with the European Axis Bowers, but whether she is likely to avoid that folly and her Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, to proclaim an independent policy, as some optimists are now predicting, is another question. With the fact that Japanese governing and official circles have been penetrated deeply by Nazi conspiracy ami intrigue, it has to be considered that the Japanese militarists are in a, state of desperation. They have reached a position from which it, is as difficult, to retreat as to advance, and many of them no doubt are prepared to go even to the most fantastic extremes rather Ilian admit that they have led their country into a. hopelessly false and dangerous position. The first great blunder of these militarists was the attack on China, opened more than lour years ago. Instead of yielding easy plunder, this act of aggression has involved Japan in an exhausting war in which there is no visible prospect of termination or relief. It is now becoming clear that the totalitarian rulers of Japan were guilty of a second blunder, as well as a second ('rime, when they occupied Imlo-Uhina. This operation was meaningless save as a step towards Birther aggression, involving at least Thailand and the Burma Road, il not much more ambitious objectives. In this southward thrust, the Japanese aggressors appear to have counted upon the English-speaking nations being too much occupied elsewhere to stand in llreir pa I They have now been undeceived, but there is no visible evidence that they are prepared to retreat. They seem inclined rather to trade upon a threat to cut. or attempt Io cut. communications between the United States and Russia by way ol the Siberian port of Vladivostok. They may be hardened in that inclination by the fact that, with the fate of Leningrad, ami pAssibly also that of the Arctic ports of European Russia, hanging in the balance, the importance of Vladivostok as a gateway ol sup. plies for Russia is very much increased. As matters stand. New Zealand, with other countries seriously concerned, is bound to recognise that there is no assurance whatever that the Pacific crisis will be settled peacelidly. On the contrary, it becomes necessary, as a matter ol simple prudence, for this country and others to consider what they may do to safeguard themselves and their interests —not least their seaborne trade —in the (‘vent of an extension ol the war Io the Pacific. Any hope of an improvement in the outlook —il is al best a rather slender hope—is contingent upon opposition developing in Japan to. the policy of predatory aggression. An American observer wrote on this subject recently:— Some clay soon the Japanese public is perhaps going to proceed beyond the stage of mere grumbling and begin to inquire: “Is it really impossible to find new courses which will improve our situation?” If that time comes there will indeed be hope, for Japan’s best interests lie in friendship with China. America, and Britain, in the opinion of many who know Japanese history, psychology, and economic potentialities. The difficulty is in getting plain facts accepted by the muddled Japanese. ... It has been suggested that Japanese business men —the directors and organisers of the country’s economic life, as distinct, from its militarist, oligarchy—may lead their nation back into ways of peace. This is a development, much to be desired, but an extended series of violent, crimes, of which the recent attempt to murder Baron liiranuma is the latest example, has shown that the threat of assassination hangs over the heads of public, men in Japan who are even suspected of moderate leanings.