Mr. Menzies and Japan
In previous speeches Mr. R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia, has told something of his country's great achieve- ment in preparing men and equipment so that it is ready to take its part with the rest of the Empire against any eventuality. In his speech to the Foreign Press Association on Monday he rejected the idea that the despatch of a force to Singapore and the intensification of defence in Australia were actions taken against the Japanese. Furthermore, he protested against the idea that, because the Empire is at war with Germany and Japan has joined the Axis, a conflict with Japan is inevitaK. He pleaded for greater frankness in international relationc. and suggested that if all the Pacific Powers would lay their cards on the table and state their aims and hopes with reserve that would be a valuable contribution to diplomacy. Doubtless he would agree that in the last resort our judgemen't of a foreign Power must be based on "deeds not words." We cannot overlook the fact that in recent months japan has been taking a leaf out of the Nazi book in using speeches as port of a war of nerves. But just because Australia is not subject to nerves of that sort, and because she will not, as Mr. Menzies says, let the "element of fear inform her foreign policy," it is all the more worth while to urge that circumlocution should be cut out of diplomacy, and that statesmen should get down to the real facts, which are capable of being handled by under- standing and without an extension of the war. The speed gives Mr. Matsuoka an opportunity to respond in the same spirit. Mr. Menzies has disavowed any thought of appease- ment, but for the moment his speech has frankly puzzled Australia.
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