The Waikato Times MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1941 JAPAN AND THE AXIS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1941 JAPAN AND THE AXIS

Agreement is reported to have been reached on all important points in the dispute between Indo—China and Thailand. The terms have not been disclosed but it is generally believed that Indo-China has made substantial concessions in territory. \Vhat is of more im—portance to the outside world, however, is the Japanese gain from mediation. Had that mediation been accepted entirely with a desire to preserve peace in the Far East and without gaining advantages for the mediator there would have been great relief that one more cause of dissension had been removed. But Japan has paraded a far greater show of force than should be necessary [or a mediator who was merely seeking peace. It was certainly desirable that the war between Indo‘China and Thailand should be settled before it spread and involved other people. Whether the agreement is equitable to both parties remains to be seen. There is a widespread feeling that the terms are Japan's rather than those of the principal parties, and it that is so it can be taken for granted that they have been framed with a View to facilitating Japan‘s avowed expansion policy, and possibly at the instance of Germany. That being so, the word mediation has taken on a rather different meaning from that once generally accepted. Japan made no secret of the fact that she was determined to enforce peace on the two countries, whether they were willing or not. In adopting that attitude she had the power to perform a good service to the cause of peace or to create a situation that would make security in the Pacific more doubtful than before. . Hitler is apparently anxious to learn at first hand what Japan is doing for the Axis. Mr Matsuoka, the Japanese Foreign Minister, was to have visited Berlin earlier. but it is evident that the visit is only postponed. Japan’s recent protestations ot’ peacetul intentions have displeased Hitler, and it was probably with a view to reconciling the two points of View that Mr Matsuoka's Visit was delayed. The Japanese themselves are clearly not unanimous. Some are strongly in favour of acting in full concert with the Axis as a unique opportunity of implementing the expansionist policy. Others are not so sure that for purely selfish reasons Germany is not leading Japan into a position of great peril. The Japanese Government is therefore still hesitating to commit itself to full co-operation with the Axis. The Japanese are not so foolish as not to be able to see that the advantages of co-operation would lie mainly With Germany. The Axis arrangement provides for Japanese assistance to Germany, but how can Germany reciprocate '3 11' Japan, tor instance, should fall foul of the United States and find herself cut off from the supplies upon which her national industries depend, what can Germany do to make good the loss? There is a strong opinion that it Mr Matsuoka goes to Berlin he will not go only to receive Hitler’s orders. The visit is bound to be of outstanding importance because Japan is still balanced between two minds. Recent developments in the Far East have not given her any encouragement to think that the adoption of Nazi methods would bring her in the Pacific the results they have brought Germany in Europe.