Japan's Submission
The occupation of Japan is proceeding smoothly. Elaborate precautions were taken by the Allied commanders to guard against Japanese treachery or indiscipline, but there has been no attempt so far to depart from the letter or the spirit of the surrender terms. Japan is a totalitarian country in the fullest sense of the term, and the Emperor's commands appear to be binding not only upon the
officials and the fighting-men but upon the whole population. The Emperor and the Government have accepted for Japan the role of a defeated and even a repentant country, whose virtues are to shine as conspicuously in defeat as in war. In the Imperial rescript pro- claiming the cessation of hostilities the " glory " of Japan remains unquestioned, but it is to manifest itself now in calmness and patience and in the pursuit of a policy which will " win the con- fidence of the world " and " contribute to the progress of mankind." In the Diet the aged Yukio Ozaki called for an overhaul of education which would " pound into the people's heads the laws of humanity." Such is the language which comes naturally even to a statesman who is demanding a more democratic form of government. An all- powerful Government must shape the character of the people, and condition them for humanity just as it conditioned them for war. The war is recognised to have been a mistake, and " repentance" appears to be rather for an error of judgement than for a sin. Pru- dence dictates a policy of submission, of correct acceptance of orders issued, but under the Emperor's leadership it is taking the form of a submission self-imposed ; it becomes an act of virtue in per- forming which the nation insists on retaining its dignity and its character. Such an attitude, incalculable as it is, is not necessarily unacceptable to the Allies if it means, as at this stage it appears to mean, that their orders are obeyed and that the occupation will proceed smoothly. But it will not be mistaken for a change of heart, and it must not lure the Allies into shortening the occupation or omitting any of the measures which are necessary to stamp out Imperialism. The 'disclosure by the American Government of Japanese atrocities against war-prisoners, equal in hideousness to anything perpetrated in Germany, is calculated to stiffen the Allies considerably.
