An Indian Poet On Japan

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 1 (Supplement)

An Indian Poet On Japan

THE great Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, was asked by some of his Indian countrymen in Tokio to protest against the boycott of Japanese goods. Mr. Robert Tweedy, in a letter to the “Irish Times,” gives his reply:—

“Perhaps some of us have felt doubts about the wisdom or the usefulness of the move to boycott Japanese goods in the endeavour to check the ruthless and barbarous war Japan is waging against the Chinese people. “A letter from the great Indian pacifist and poet, Rabindranath Tagore, which is copied below, should help us to make up our minds on this point. It must be remembered that Indian Nationalists have looked upon Japan as a friend and ally against British Imperialism.

“Nevertheless, Japanese militarism, with its policy of annexation and the bombardment of peaceful Chinese towns has caused a strong revulsion of feeling among the masses of Indian’ peoples, and has given rise to a demand for the boycott of Japanese goods. -

“A group of Indian merchants living in Tokio, however, knowing Tagore’s strong admiration for the Japanese, sent him a request to use his influence to oppose this boycott. The following is his reply:— “ ‘Your telegram has caused me many sleepless hours, for I am extremely sorry that I must refuse your request. I wish that you had asked for my collaboration in a matter in which I am not opposed in spirit. “ ‘I know that in appealing to me you have reckoned on my high opinion of the Japanese; for I, and all Asia with me, once admired Japan and cherished great hopes that Asia had at last found in Japan the answer to the West; that the new power of Japan would be devoted to safeguarding the civilisation of the East against foreign interests.

“ ‘But it was not long before Japan betrayed this awakening hope, and

turned its back on everything which was wonderful and significant in its symbolic rise. Japan now itself represents an even worse menace to the defenceless peoples of the East. And worse than its economic exploitation, worse than its territorial aggression, are the massacres which it perpetrates day after day, and its shameless defence of this inhumanity.

“Tn the earlier days of history, countries have been conquered, and, viewed broadly, it was not, so very inhuman or frightful for a nation full of vitality to step over the crumbling wall erected by the other nation, in the days of its victories. Before science rendered the inhumanity of man so effective, such struggles, just as life itself, seemed only half as cruel. “ ‘All this is now changed, and when one nation invades the territory of another to-day, the wrong it commits does not consist merely of its imperialist ambition, but in slaughtering of human beings with less discrimination than a pestilence. And when the conscience of the whole world is aroused to indignation by this wrong, and cries out in protest, how can. I oppose this just protest?

“ ‘This protest is not the work of an individual. It is us spontaneous, it comes as straight from the heart, as the admiration felt for Japan thirty years ago by the peoples of the East. I would be powerless to stop this protest, even were I to venture the attempt. Therefore, you must pardon me if it is impossible for me to accede to your request.

“ ‘Believe me that I feel the prbfoundest sympathy both for my fellowcountrymen in Japan and for the Japanese themselves, but the outcry from broken hearts, from shattered heads and bones is too penetrating, too frightful.’

“This letter,” comments Mr. Tweedy, “appealing by its very courtesy and entire innocence of any belligerent spirit speaks for itself.”