The Washington Discussions

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23494, 24 November 1941, Page 4

The Washington Discussions

The conference in Washington of representatives of the A.B.C.D. Powers suggests the possibility that the discussions between the United States Government and Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomura have reached the point at which definite proposals are under consideration. For some days now there have been rumours, probably founded on fact, that what the United States Government is seeking is nothing less than a complete reversal of alliances in the Far East, Japan seceding from the Axis and joining the democracies in return for a full restoration of trade with the A.B.C.D. Powers. This is a glittering prospect, and although it is not likely to be realised, it is not outside the range of political possibilities. But it seems necessary to bear in mind that the value of any purely diplomatic settlement in the Far East is severely limited. A reversal of alliances might temporarily diminish the risk of war in the Pacific and upset Germany's plans to exploit Japanese ambitions for her own ends. But the forces which have made the Far East a trouble centre for the last two decades cannot be removed by diplomatic means alone. Japan is an aggressor partly for reasons which are rooted deep in her social and economic structure and partly because she is—or has been—surrounded by weak neighbours—by a disunited China, by colonies orphaned by the war in Europe, by the eastern provinces of the hardpressed Soviet Union, and by the Philippines, half-way to an insecure independence. Until

Japan has undergone profound changes, until the Soviet Union has beaten, back the German invaders, and until the status of Indo-China, the Netherlands Indies, and the Philippines has been clarified and secured, there can be no permanent settlement in the Far East. It follows that, whatever the outcome of the Washington discussions may be, there can for the democracies be no appreciable relaxation of military preparedness in the Far East. The problem of pacification in that area is a long-term problem, and for the present any diplomatic balance of forces must be unreal unless it has a military basis. ,