Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1941. NO FAR EASTERN MUNICH.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY , NOVEMBER 7, 1941. NO FAR EASTERN MUNICH.

COUPLE of months ago, when it was made known that the then Japanese Premier, Prince Konoye, had addressed a personal note to President Roosevelt, some fears were expressed in Chungking that the United States and Britain might resort to appeasement in an effort, as one writer put it, “to pry Japan loose from the Axis.” These fears do not appear to hate been given any formal expression by the Chungking Government, but it was made clear enough at the time that they were without foundation.

The United States has refused consistently and steadfastly to recognise the legality of any occupation by Japan of Chinese territory, and the attitude of the British Government was defined explicitly and unmistakably by Mr Churchill in a speech made shortly before Prince Konoye addressed his letter to President Roosevelt. The British Prime Minister then, declared, with reference to the Japanese policy of aggression: “This has got to stop,” and added that if it did not stop and trouble arose: “We shall, of course, range ourselves unhesitatingly at the side of the United States.”

Although Britain, at an immensely critical stage of the war, felt compelled to agree for a brief period to the closing of the Burma Road, it is well established that there has never been any prospect or possibility of a Far Eastern Munich—that is to say of an attempt by the United States and Britain to appease Japan at the expense of China, in the hope of inducing Japan not to enter the war against them. It is, of course, true that Britain and the United States would prefer not to be obliged to fight Japan in the Pacific while they have their hands full with Hitler on the other side of the world —Britain as a belligerent and the United States as the arsenal of democracy and a country becoming ever more deeply involved in a shooting war on the ocean highways—but this is very far from meaning that either of the English-speaking nations is prepared to throw China to the Japanese wolf.

If anything were needed to dispose finally of the possibility of a Far Eastern Munich, it would be found in the proposals embodied in the seven-point programme Japan is reported to have laid down “for the maintenance of Japanese-American relations.” In brief this programme is an assertion that peace between Japan and the United States is possible only if the latter country discontinues all aid to China, “encourages” China to make peace with Japan, acknowledges Japan’s leadership in the Western Pacific, recognises Manchukuo, lifts all the economic restrictions she has imposed on Japan, and agrees to a resumption of trade on terms dictated by Tokio.

Under the programme, it will be noted, Japan not only demands immunity in crime and the withdrawal of all assistance from her victim, but seeks to dictate to the United States, in matters of internal American sovereignty,

As yet the seven-point programme has been put forward by a semi-official newspaper which is regarded as the; mouthpiece of the Japanese Foreign Office. A blackmailing attempt to extort concessions may thus be taken as established. All that remains now to be determined is whether the Japanese Government is really prepared to take its stand on the programme set forth in the “Japan Times,” or is merely carrying a policy of bluff to its extreme limits. There certainly can be no doubt about the response the United States and the British Empire would make to such demands as are embodied in the seven-point programme. It is doubtful if anything more impudent and bare-faced than this preposterous programme has ever been heard of in international relationships.