JAPAN CLAY v. CHINA SANDS

Radio Record, 17 June 1938, Page 29

JAPAN CLAY v. CHINA SANDS

Impartial Observer Wond ers Whether Island Empire. _ Is Over-teaching

AR across the Pacific is being waged a‘battie between’ two Eastern nations that may, at any time, have profound and even disastrous consequences in the ISuropean arena-or, on the other hand, it may fizzle out quietly into one of those uneasy and distrustful neutralities which are so difficult tor the Occidental mind to understand. What will be the outeome of the Sino-Japanese war cannot at present be predicted by even the most knowledgable. But, however the war ends, there is no doubt that European peoples must, in the future, pay a great deal more serious attention than they have done in the past to eyents and racial feelings in the mysterious East. Both China and Japan seem destined to take an increasing part in international complications and friction--if only because their teeming populations are daily emphasising the prohlem of land expansion. To-day, of course, it is Japan that assumes the more sinister proportions in Wuropean = eyes. China -- huge, sprawling, only half awakened to Westernisation and racial loyalty by the amazing efforts of General Chiang-Kai-Shek-is only the stubborn victim of Japanese aggrandisement. Whatever her potentialities, she is at the moment rather a country for protection than to be feared, But the terrifying efficiency of Japan's war muchine has, in the last few years, turned the watchful eyes of the whole world upon her. UN FORTUNATELY, those who ' would like to sce the Japanese seene Wholely, are handicapped by lack of understanding of the Oriental mind combined now with a fear-complex that breeds all sorts of prejudices, In the flood of partisan books about Japan, then, thoughtful readers will welcome with unusual enthusiasm the latest work of William Henry Chamberlin, "Japan Over Asia’’ This is written with a rare halance of judgment and shrewdness of observation, Those aeqnainted with Mr, Chamberlin’s three hooks on the Soviet Union will already know what to expect from him. We has not been Far Kastern correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor" for many years without learning how to sift the grain from the chaff and to discern signitieant detail in a flurry of ramonr and hiased speculation. As he states in lis preface, he does not intend either "an indictment nor a vindication of Japan’s expanionism, but to set forth as objectively as possible the main events and causes of

the forward drive ith Asia, the obstacles which it encountered. and the favourable and unfayonrable auguries for Japan's imperial eareer in the future." Seldom has a politica! writer better justified his promise than M1. Chamberlin His critieal faculty never seems fo he lulled, and he examines all his information with «= sternly selective eye. The result is a study of Japan that not only traces the main fea tures of the recent drive tor expansion, but also probes deeply into the political, econo‘mie and psychological complexities of the Japanese people ft

shows clearly how the natien, Lor all its rapid assimiiation of Western progress, is still passionately eonvineed of the old principle of "divine right of kings"; aud how the army will be more strong because it is so genninely fired With the Japanese ideal of an "Asia for the Asiaties." N the whole, Mr. Chamherlin’s picture is not one to qnieten fears, There is an ominous nofe in his assess menr of the Japanese character and aims--and yet he does hint strongly thar Japan may perhaps he over-reaci.-ing herself just as Napoleon did years ago in his attempt to conquer Europe. For the Japanese military caste is engaged in an enterprise of unlimited liability. Tach new conquest and each aggressive move seems to build higher the wall of trouble the nation has yer fo meet, Who knows but in the end, the answer to Japan’s war policy will he made not by Japan at all, but by #2 reunited (China? Mr. Chamberlin makes no prophecies-he is too wise for that. But he does say: "The fear that Japan may swallow China whole and swell to the greatest empire in the .world in the process is hased on a gross under-estimate of Chinese sublety and Chinese — ¢anacity for evasion, proserastination, sahotage and passive — resistance. ‘The Japanese clay may break if there is too reckless an expenditure of men and money in pursuit of ambitious dreams of overlordship in China. But fhe Chinese sauds will never rin in Japanese moulds," Undoubtedly, "Japan Over Asia" is one of the most yaluable books on this portentous subject which has been

written. No one who is really interested in world movement can afford to miss an estimate so iucid, so impartial and so broadly authoritative. "Japan Over Asia," by William Menry Chamberlin. (Duckworth, london). Our copy from the publishers. re are ee oe