AMERICA AND THE FAR EAST
SIR,—Prince Obolensky's article in your last issue, interesting and somewhat alarming as it is, calls, I think, for some supplementary remarks.
We must, of course, recognise that the present Government in Japan, which came into power when totalitarianism in Europe had reached its peak, is not friendly either to England or democracy. Its actions reveal this all too clearly. This perhaps is not surprising when we remember that Mr. Matsuoka, who is now Foreign Minister, was the man who eloquently but unsuccessfully pleaded before the League of Nations Japan's case for her Manchurian venture. At the same time there is a real danger, I think, of viewing with suspicion every- thing that Japan does, and of attributing underhand motives to her simplest acts, e.g., her attempt to secure new markets in the East Indies in place of the ones she lost in Europe.
But looking at the Far-Eastern political situation as a whole there are certain other factors which need to be taken into consideration. Were japan to enter into the war on behalf of the Axis Powers, to the rest of the world she would seem to be doing so either in order to get out of the China War without loss of face, or else to try and emulate the Jackal of Europe. Japan's leaders, whether we agree with them or not, are not likely to take their country into a war just at the time when the strength of the Axis Powers is on the wane. Already there is evidence of a change of tone in the controlled Press. In June and July the note in all the Japanese newspapers without exception was that with the fall of France that of Britain and her Empire was not far behind. Needless to say, this idea was assiduously propagated by Nazi agents in Japan, one of whom is entrenched in the Foreign Office in Tokyo. Today the nation realise the result is not the foregone conclusion they thought. Is it likely, then, that a Government which has stated again and again its intention of keeping out of the war unless some third Power takes the initiative in attacking Germany or Italy will come in at the present time unless it is tolerably certain it can do so with decisive effect?
Further, Japan will scarcely venture on a new incident as long as her rear is exposed to attack. So far, despite great efforts, she has failed to come to an adequate understanding with the Soviet. This is perhaps not altogether surprising in view of her anti-Communistic policy. If, however, she did succeed in making a satisfactory treaty, then perhaps the danger signal should be hoisted, but hardly before.
Japan has allied herself with the Axis Powers, but she has done no more. Suspicion and lack of sympathy with her difficulties may stimu- late her to do so. When Germany is defeated she may value our friendship once again. Let us avoid adopting an attitude which will make this more difficult in the years to come.—Yours faithfully,
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