Former Ambassador Talks Of Term In Japan

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30686, 27 February 1965, Page 12

Former Ambassador Talks Of Term In Japan

Sometimes in serious vein, often in humorous, Mr E. B. E. Taylor entertained the Christchurch Junior Chamber with random reminiscences of his time as New Zealand Ambassador in Tokyo. Mr Taylor was guest speaker at the annual meeting and dinner of the chamber.

In an address which embraced his experiences in the political, economic and social atmosphere of Korea and Japan, Mr Taylor balanced the backwardness of one against the prosperity of the other. He said that Jaycees, because of

their interest in underdeveloped countries, should be particularly concerned with Korea. On the other hand, Japan, which had become a world power in a comparatively short time, was not the Asian country which many were iiclined to think. Mr Taylor said that New Zealand, after following in the diplomatic footsteps of Britain for many years, was now involved in international affairs in its own right. Some countries, particularly the newly independent, had a passion for appointing diplomats, but New Zealand had probably gone as far as it need at present.

In his case, his appointment as ambassador to Tokyo was to carry out New Zealand Government policy and enhance New Zealand’s reputation wherever possible. “In the present-day world, diplomacy is becoming more and more important We have got to appreciate that we have a contribution to make.”

Mr Taylor said he did not at first appreciate the significance of his later being accredited ambassador to Korea but the post was an important one. “Korea is a struggling Asian nation and deserves our help and support. It is the last barrier against communism.

“The 28 million people of South Korea are living on American dollars and America is looking for some way of shedding her responsibilities. South Korea now has two options. It can either unify with the north or establish diplomatic relations with Japan. The latter will come—possibly even this year,” Mr Taylor said. When he presented his credentials there the Koreans were grateful for the recognition of even New Zealand with its mere 2) million of population. Tokyo Impression

At first experience, he said, he found Tokyo a sprawling, grey, colourless metropolis. After a time he learned of its delights. Japanese people read more daily, weekly and monthly periodicals than any other people in the world. Their behaviour was governed by their position in society, which prescribed a particular reaction to almost every conceivable situation. An exception to this was the state of being a prisoner or captor which may have partly explained their brutality during the war under these circumstances. Their code of behaviour just did not envisage their ever becoming captives or anyone else falling into their hands alive.

If someone were injured in an accident in Japan they were left lying in the street until the arrival of the police or the ambulance, if one or the other arrived. “This may seem an inhuman system but to help the injured man would put him under an obligation to you, and he hadn’t asked you. If he died after your help you might be under an obligation to his family and have to marry his daughter.” Mr Taylor said that in the short space of 100 years Japan had come from a medieval period to a world power. By 1941 it had nearly succeeded in its plan for a greater Asian co-prosperity sphere. Only the good fortune of intervention by the United States Navy had prevented it. The country was completely smashed in 1945 and now it had brought itself to the stage of being one of the most powerful industrial countries in the world and courted by every country in the world.

“These men are not fools, gentlemen. They are not just imitators. They take ideas, improve on them and invent their own,” Mr Taylor said.