NEW WORLD ORDER—AXIS PATTERN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 8

NEW WORLD ORDER—AXIS PATTERN

There has been plenty of evidence since the war broke out that Hitler’s plans for a new order in Europe, part of the more ambitious idea of a new world order, had been deliberately thought out, and a timetable setting out the sequence of the steps to be. taken to achieve this, placed on record. Mussolini had similar plans for Africa Dove tailed into these grandiose schemes, it is now suggested is programme for accomplishing parallel the Western Pacific. The Japanese contribution to this undertaking is explained in a cablegram" from Tokio published yesterday conveying a forecast of events as outlined by a member of the Cabn et Advisory Council, Admiral Suetsugu. According toMum, the nhase is to include China, the Malayan islands, and the Dutch East Indies; the second, Australia and India. New Zealand, we are tol , is not included, though no reason is given for this abstention This statement of aims is much more specific than that set out in the speech delivered by the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. i lalsuoka, last month, though the implications of the atter were un o takable. These utterances may be designed simply to influence Umteo States opinion and policy against throwing the full weight of Amenca resources into the Struggle to save Britain and the democracies and also to prompt a dispersal of Britain’s armed resources in order to further the enterprises of the Axis Powers m Europe.. In that case the Japanese leaders would appear to be simply adapting the tactics of Hitler of creating apprehensions—the war of nerves to suit their own purposes, and incidentally those of their Axis partneis. . On other hand, these may be advance notices of deliberate and sinister intention. In any case, whether these words have been spoken in real earnest or not, their meaning is perfectly plain, and in their effect calculated to accentuate the growing distrust of Japanese policy and aims. Whether the Japanese people are whole-heartedly at one with men present leaders in this may be seriously doubted. The nation has been living under increasing economic strain, felt by all classes, as the ic_ult of their Government’s policy of expansion by aggression. Ihe campaign in China has been prolonged far beyond the period m which the people were led to believe extensive military operations would be necessary, and they are now facing the prospect of indefinite sacrifices. If to this commitment there should be added expansionist enterprises elsewhere, the strain would be greatly intensified. lhcir leaders might no doubt assure them that they could rely on the cooperation of the European Axis Powers, but opinion m Japan is by no means certain that the obligations entered into by these Powe s under the military alliance would be worth their signatures. Ti e Japan Nezus-Wcek, published in Tokio, warned its readers m November last that Germany’s announced indifference to the plight of nci Italian ally in the Balks ns demonstrated the flnnsy nature o f tje Berl .nRome Pact, and the characteristic German attitude towaid all ti catics. “In considering her own military pact with Germany added tu journal, “Japan must have cause to wonder if she too has been sold a sufu (synthetic) alliance.” There is also, pointed out the the practical considciation whether, granted the will to help Germany and 7 d able to do so. “The position of Britain (it observed) is still critical, but no more so than that of her enemies. Each day Britain stands, he striking power is proportionately increased; but each day the war continues the fighting strength of Germany and Italy is educed. Tmie is on the British side, and time is the most powerful of all allies. The sequence of events since then have justified the statements made. The fact cannot have escaped the notice of Japanese people, mtensi ving any existing doubts concerning the wisdom of the policy of then leaders in associating themselves with two European Powers whose actions have earned for them the execration of civilized nations.