JAPAN’S AMBITION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 282, 10 September 1941, Page 5

JAPAN’S AMBITION

GUARDIAN OF THE EAST.

APPEAL MADE TO CHINA, “GIVE UP RESISTANCE” (United Press Association—Copyright-.} NEW YORK, Sept. 8. Having come to the conclusion that Japan’s main duty lies in defending East Asia from an extention of war and interference by third Powers, the Japanese press- is; now urging Marshal Chiang Kai-shek to give up resistance in order to liberate East Asia from the burden of the white man,’ said the Tokio cor-, respondent of the New York “Times,” Mr O. D. Tolischus. “The Hochi calls upon Marshal Chiang Kai-shek not to be the jackal of the 1 Anglo-American tiger. It pleads with him to engage in serious reflection, ask pardon from his people for his past misconduct, and promptly liquidate himself. The commentator, Mr Teeichi Muto, in an open letter to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, calls him a black ingrate, and says his anti-Japanism is enough to cause his benefactor, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, to weep in the nether werld. He adds, ‘On Japan’s shoulders hangs the destiny of all Asia, including China. This is the time when you should liquid- / ate-your past attiude.”

JAPAN’S WAR STOCKS.

SUFFICIENT FOR LONG PERIOD.

LONDON, September 8. A warning against under-estimat-ing Japan's economic position ana misunderstanding the increasing shortage, of commodities offered for consumption is given in the current issue of the “Economist.” “Japan’s supplies,” it stated, “are large enough to cover Japanese war-time requirements for periods ranging in various goods from 6 to 15 months. It is estimated that they will permit Japan, white continuing the war in China, to face art Anglo-American trade embargo for about a year, or allow her to light southwards in a blitzkrieg for some six months. (Germany’s attack on Russia was not foreseen in Tokio, and the now situation thereby created has led the Japanese fighting services to demand an urgent further increase in war stocks so as to enable them to face, besides a continuation of the China war and an Anglo-Saxon embargo or southern blitzkrieg, aggressive action against Russia m case it should collapse before the German onslaught. After Japan’s adherence to the Tripartite. Pact the complete apparatus of economic and technical advisers were imported, • and super-imposed *by the Tokio War Office upon the whole ox Japan’s finance and economy. This apparatus of the German advisers was chiefly responsible for a huge accumulation of war stocks. These Germans were also responsible for the increasing difficulties of current industrial production a*id an increase in the supply: of commodities foi civilian consumption, in Japan. “The accumulation in Japan of. large additional stocks of war supplies was accomplished, first, through systematic economising in war and other materials originally ear-marked for use iii China. Secondly, by the continued tightening up during the past 12 months of Japan’s foreign trade and foreign exchange controls, and reducing exports to the minimum required by foreign exchange needs; and, thirdly, by a further curtailment of civilian consumption all along the line.” Tho writer adds, however : “Influential Japanese military and naval leaders have recently become critical, plainly paying attention to tho suggestion of private big business that production should be encouraged by the old standard methods of increasing prices and allowing higher private profits on war and related materials.”

CO-PROSPERITY SPHERE. DANGER OF .MONOPOLY. TOKI.O, September 8. The Governor-General of Formosa, Admiral Seizo Kobayashi, writing in the Kokumin, said .that while the South Seas were vital to Japan’s ecouomy, "when you get the mca that a. common prosperity sphere is going to be a Japanese monopoly you will be unable to achieve a co-prosperity sphere.” Ho said the natives of Southern Asia will combine with the present rule in lighting against Japan, if Japan becomes merely "another invader." The leader of the Pro-Axis Tohokai Association, 'Air Saigo Nhkano, who disagrees with the present trend ot Government policy, announced that no will deliver an address entitled ‘Live like a lion,” at a mass meeting m Sunday.