Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1940. JAPAN’S NEW ORDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 43, 30 November 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1940. JAPAN’S NEW ORDER.

By the signing of the treaty with the. puppet Government of China, which is reported to be pending, japan seeks to tighten her grip on the Chinese, leading to ultimate complete domination of the country. Such domination is essential to the success of the ideal of a new order in East Asia. The aim of the Japanese bears a strong likeness to the declared plans of Hitler and Mussolini in Europe, but it can at least be claimed as original, for its formulation and announcement preceded by years the Axis Powers’ talk of a new order under their control. Spokesmen at Tokio have always defended the idea as one of protection and peace; if in this respect it borrowed anything, the debt was incurred to America’s Monroe Doctrine. But beneath the cloak of concern for friendship is a determined military purpose. The Japanese quarrel with China arose from the latter’s refusal to believe that a merely peaceful purpose was intended. Of this mark of Chinese independence Japan made bitter complaint, against Chiang Kaishek’s Government; there was no quarrel with the Chinese State and people, said the official voice of Tokio —they would be protected from the evil machinations of false and criminal political leaders. So Japan proceeded with the invasion of China without declaring war. With few exceptions, the Chinese have not been deceived by the ruse; they know that the project, so far from being peaceful, is deeply hostile, aiming at subjugation. Recent statements and events clearly show the extent of Japanese ambition. At one fell swoop, Chinese, Malayans, Filipinos, Burmese and other native peoples of the whole coveted region are to pass under the permanent pressure of the Japanese yoke, while British, American, French, Dutch, and the rest are either to £>e given marching orders or retain their oriental rights and interests by Japanese sufferance. Persistence in this policy must lead to international complications. Indeed, one spokesman admits that Japan must sooner or later, be involved m war with the United States, but thinks this risk can be postponed by American dread of Germany and Italy. On paper, his theory can be readily written, but it will be quite another thing to write it in deeds.