THE EXPANSION OF JAPAN
[To the Editor of Tim SPECTATOR.] Sin.—To an onlooker the letters appearing in The Spectator of August 31st and September 7th under the heading " The BXpansion of Japan " are interesting.
Sir Hesketh Bell is apparently under the delusion that whatever may happen to the rest of the world his view—in other words, the ordinary view of the average Britisher—in handling the situation is correct. No one can blame him on that account, for, after all, we have some sympathy with him, being British. The only thing is this : does he honestly know anything upon the subject? Then comes the reply of the Rev. W. H. Murray Walton—he, at least. has some common sense and love of Empire (no inference intended against Sir Hesketh Bell's love of Empire). Mr. Murray fully realizes that the efforts of Japan in Manchoukuo arc not only to the best interests of Manchoukuo but also of the British Empire—at the same time I do not think that even Mr. Walton grasps what this really means to the Empire and peace out East.
May I be permitted to tell the truth? Japan is fully aware of what her action in Manchoukuo means ; she also fully understands how her action may be misunderstood ; but what she cannot understand is this—the absolute hypocrisy IA the British Government and the League of Nations in questioning her actions in Manehoukuo when we Britishers did exactly the same thing in Egypt in the past under the Cromer regime and published to the world that we were doing so to the benefit of the local inhabitants and under the guiding hand of providence, when we were really acting for our own benefit in order to safeguard the Canal and protect our Empire out East. No apology is necessary on that score, but at least let us be fair to our old ally Japan with regard to her actions in Manchoukuo.
Sir Hesketh Bell, like the majority of our countrymen, fails entirely to understand that Manchoukuo is not territory belonging to China ; but that in reality China may belong to Manehoukuo. In other words, that for the past 600 years it has been Manchu Emperors who have ruled China and not Chinese Emperors in control of Manchuria.
Do not let us forget this fact—when the Japanese Govern ment placed Pu Yi, the deposed (Manchu) Emperor of China upon the throne of Manchoukuo, at least Japan " played the game," and the sooner Great Britain follows the better.— [Japan in Manchuria did precisely what she had pledged herself not to do when she signed the League Covenant.— En. Time Spectator.]
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