JAPAN’S POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1941, Page 6

JAPAN’S POLICY

ARBITER OF HER OWN DESTINY RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES. CANDID MESSAGES TO TOKIO. Japanese pessimism about JapanAmerican relations is paradoxically a fortunate sign, writes Randall Gould, in the "Christian Science Monitor,” in an article appearing on August 20. It is one of the several indications that Japanese international policies may begin to bo based on realities. However little sweetness there may be about Dai Nippon nowadays, there is at least starting to be a little light—long overdue and welcome indeed in view of the long and almost unbroken record of march toward darkness through such means as control of the press, restriction on free speech and “dangerous thoughts,” and compulsory unification of the Christian sects. It is not stretching interpretation too far to say, moreover, that the Government’s decision to invoke full provision of the General Mobilisation Act may not be without its redeeming features in the long run. Such extremism may, of course, mean war—but it may also mean a turning point close ahead. Which this will be depends largely on events far from the Far East, notably the respective fates of Great Britain and Soviet Russia in their struggle against Japan’s ally-of-convenience, Germany. KEEPING AVENUES CLEAR. But if Germany does not begin to win some early and conspicuous fresh successes. Japan is going to have to begin some serious exploration of avenues toward an about face. This is the first time such a situation has developed in more than four years of Japanese war with China. And as stated, the Japanese are beginning to get some cold, solid information on which to base their thinking in the event' that the opportunity for new easy conquests does not quickly present itself. Tremendously significant was the candid message of Kaname Wakasugi, one of Ambassador Admiral Nomura’s chief aides, in a telephone message from Los Angeles to the great Japanese newspaper, Tokyo "Nichi Nichi.” From another, the “Nichi Nichi” would never have printed any such words. But from the man who is trying to carry first-hand facts from the Japanese Embassy in Washington to those in charge of shaping Japanese policies in Tokyo, this message could reach the Japanese people and startle them out of their propaganda-drugged somnolence. What Mr Wakasugi said is what scores of others might have said but their information would have been stifled at its source by newspaper editors, and Japanese Government officials to a programme of letting the Japanese people know only what they want to hear—not the truth, which they should hear, but which might create distrust of the national policies.

DESCRIBES U.S. POLICY. Mr Wakasugi was an accurate reporter of what he—and many others —had learned in Washington. He said in effect that the United States is not going to start anything with Japan, but that if Japan insists on trouble, the United States is ready and determined to meet the worst eventualities. He had found that America and Great Britain are in close harmony against aggression. He reported isolationism rapidly waning and preparedness the American keynote. Granting that the United States is'desirous of maintaining friendly relations with Japan as long as possible, Mr Wakasugi added that this “all depends on the situation” —more directly, “the attitude depends solely on Japan. No one could put things more squarely and accurately than that, it will be agreed by competent American observers. Mr Wakasugi deserves the gratitude of both the United States and 'Japan for emulating the sensational performance of United States Ambassador Joseph Grew in Tokyo many months ago by disclosing the true state of the American position. Essentially, neither Mr Wakasugi nor Mr Grew pulled any rabbits out of any hats; but each proved himself an able and courageous reporter to the public at large,, which is exceptional indeed among diplomats. It seems safe to suggest that unless Japanese militarism receives some quick and extraordinary gift of good luck in the way of another adventurist opportunity, the words of Mr Wakasugi are bound to have a chilling effect upon those Japanese who have been disposed to drag Japan closer and closer to the brink of a war with America which most Japanese think cannot come to pass, but which all informed Japanese know must be ruinous to their country if it ever does come to pass. MORE POWER FOR GOVERNMENT. The last drastic extension of provisions of the General Mobilisation Act came less than a week before the last Cabinet overturn. It put the Government in charge of private Japanese capital. Coupled with other extreme steps of the period, it undoubtedly played a part in bringing the political situation to a bursting-point. The Cabinet resigned. Although Prince Fumimaro Konoye again became Premier, because nobody better or more generally acceptable could be found, the extremist pro-Axis Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka turned up among the missing. Since then it hr.: been anybody’s guess as to whether the change meant some tendency toward liberalisation —a thing not thus Car in evidence —or increased subservience to the militarist junta. The only thing certain was that the “new deal" was designed to pull away from Axis entanglements, and keep Japan from being a German catspaw. although the increasingly nationalistic line was of course perfectly capable of utilising Axis aid for the furtherance of Japanese ambitions. The apparently German-instigated handing-over by Vichy of new IndoChina privileges to Japan provided a prompt and striking case in point. It would be complete error, however, to assume that this meant that Japan was going to move a step farther in establishing a Far East diversion—entailing war with Britain and America — than it felt safe or in line with its own interests.