A Role for Japan ?
It is presumably in his capacity as United States Commander-in- Chief in Japan, and no other, that General MacArthur, in the course of one of his periodical incursions into politics, has told the Japanese people that in certain eventualities it will be the duty of Japan, in concert with others who cherish freedom, to mount force to repel force. In certain eventualities it might be, but it is to be hoped that neither General MacArthur nor any who may take note of his words have forgotten that the operative clause in the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance concluded between Peking and Moscow in February, and ratified in April, of last year provides that- " Should either China or the U.S.S.R. be attacked by Japan, or States allied with that country, the other party will imme- diately render military and other assistance with all the means at its disposal."
It is true that General MacArthur included in his contemplation of the possibilities the qualification that Japan would be acting " within the principles of the United Nations," but it can hardly be supposed that that would deeply impress a Russia called on by her ally to honour the stipulations of the alliance. It may be conceded at once that if ever a general war did break out, the assistance of a rearmed Japan would be indispensable. But there is room for grave doubt whether General MacArthur is interpreting his functions very helpfully in envisaging at this moment action which would immediately precipitate the entry of the Soviet Union with all its forces into a Far Eastern conflict.
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