CLOUDS IN THE FAR EAST
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The letters of your correspondent, Mr. J. D. Jenkins, are always interesting when he writes about India, the country he knows so well : but I am afraid that in your issue of June 15th, in his letter on Japan he rather lets his imagination run riot.
He does not realize that recent Japanese military expansion is dictated solely by a fear of Soviet Russia, which it is known is massing strong forces in East Siberia. So far as China, America and Australia are concerned, Japan under the able leadership of her new and liberal foreign minister, Mr. Hirote, is extremely anxious to live on good terms with her neighbours. Japanese-American relations, for example, are better than they have been for years.
In a previous letter, which doubtless Mr. Jenkins read shortly after writing his own, I demolished, I trust, the old bogey that Japan is casting longing eyes on Australia : so I will not answer that point again. Mr. Jenkins, however, apparently does not realize that territorial absorption is not the only way of meeting economic need. An increase of foreign markets is also an extremely effective way, as we ourselves know.
The reference to the Kra. Canal is yet another example of the truth of the old proverb " Give a dog a bad name and bang him."—I am, Sir, &c.,
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