The Dominion. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1936. THE PUPPET SHOW IN THE FAR EAST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 8

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1936. THE PUPPET SHOW IN THE FAR EAST

First we had the puppet State of Manchukuo, with Japan pulling the strings of the marionettes. Now, it is reported, we have a similar development in Inner- Mongolia, again with Japanese stagemanagement behind the scenes. If this latest report is correct, en Japan will have effected the double purpose of encircling Southern China and driving a wedge between that territory and Russia, home time ago the Japanese Government instructed the heads of the China section of the Foreign Office and representatives of the Navy and Army general staffs to proceed to Nanking and present to tie Chinese Government its views concerning the situation between the two countries. Following the discussions it was conveyed to the Chinese Government that the three “irreducible minima” were complete suppression of all anti-Japanese activities throughout China; economic co-operation in North China; effective action to prevent the spread of Communism into the Inner Mongolian provinces of Suiytian and Charhar. . i < « i It was further intimated that if the Chinese would show sincerity” in meeting these demands there would be no need for further military action by Japan; otherwise it might be necessary to take direct and forceful action in order, in the interests of the Chinese people, to reduce chaos to order. What seems to have happened is that the Chinese Government has failed, in Japanese opinion, to “show sincerity.” Japan, however, instead of taking direct and forceful action, has taken the indirect method, used so successfully in the case of Manchuria, of staging another puppet show. It is skilful diplomacy, for Japan can say: “We have not annexed this territory. All we have done is to say that if it declares its independence we \yill assist it if requested.” Other people may have their own ideas about what this kind of “assistance’ implies, but technically, a Chinese province that constitutes itself a sovereign State as was the case with Manchuria (now Manchukuo) has complete freedom of choice concerning its own political destiny and its alliances with other countries. Japan may be technically right, but the whole thing is morally -wrong. It is extremely unlikely Liat these Chinese provinces would have declared their independence unless encouraged by attractive promises by Japan. The preoccupation of the Western Powers in critical problems in Europe has provided the Japanese with a golden opportunity for pursuing their policy in China without interference. Japanese diplomacy is very far-sighted, and if there is anything in .the report to-day that Japan and Germany have concluded a pact of mutual assistance, that is further evidence of its prescience. She haS safeguarded herself for the future against any interference when the Western Powers have settled the problems of Europe and are in a position to concern themselves more actively with these political developments in'the Far East. •