[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR.—At the close of
your admirable article last week on the situation in the Far East, you make two points ; that economic factors may force a solution, and that there is a latent liber-
alism in Japan. May I say one or two words is expansion of these ideas, as they are of the utmost importanee in thinking of the future ?
A mistaken idea, which is very common in the West is that Japan wants more territory. (It may be that the prevalence of the idea is due to somewhat of an uneasy 'conscience !) But as Dr. Nitobo has pointed out in his recent book Japan, his countrymen do not take kindly to emigration. They look rather to industry for a solution of the very pressing population-problem. Industry, requires markets. Now the Manchurian market, in which Japan has invested so much capital, is but a fraction of her total Chinese market, and to secure the former at the cost of the latter will prove a very dubious gain, especially if guerilla warfare continues in Manchuria. As it is, business circles in Japan have very little enthusiasm for the Manchurian venture for they see further than their present military masters. It is true that Japan hopes to get raw materials from Manchuria, for which she is at present dependent on the U.S.A. But raw materials do not create markets ; they only produce more goods to be sold.
In the second place, people over here do not seem to realize the tremendous strides that internationalism has made in. Japan in the past decade. The present military reaction is due to certain internal factors, e.g., the moral bankruptcy of political leadership, the failure of the liberal policy towards China, the reaction against the disintegrating forces of com- munism. But we must not forget the steady. inroads, on military power and the growth of disarmament, which marked the post-War years, and which were only possible because of the whole-hearted support of the nation. Another reason for the strength of the present nationalist reaction is the control exercised over the Press. Liberal views simply are not allowed. The people at large only get such news and opinions as are good for them. When I was in Japan much of the news reached me first from England. But now the Lytton Report is in circulation and thousands of copies! have been sold both in English and Japanese ; and though, it has entered the field late, yet its eventual influence on an educated and intelligent people is certain.
The two great needs at the present time are an avoidance by the League of any liction which may play into the hand.s. of the militarists, and the emergence of a political leader of the calibre of the lamented Mr. Hamagirchi, who by strength and character will rally the democratic forces of Japan.— I am, Sir, &c., W. H. MURRAY WALTON,
The Vicarage, Broxbourne, Herts.
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