The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 12, 1941.

Evening Star, Issue 23882, 12 May 1941, Page 6

The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 12, 1941.

JAPAN’S MISTAKES. Japan made a major mistake when she declared war on China. Encouraged by a succession of diplomatic and military successes, and believing that the Chinese had no effective power of resistance, the statesmen of Tokio, with no shadow of legitimate excuse, ordered the invasion of the Chinese republic. Their calculations have been completely upset. Instead of a series of rapid successes, leading to the quick submission of the Chinese people, Chiang Kai-shek has defied the armed might of the invaders. The war has lasted for three years and a-half. Only two major wars in the last hundred years—the World War and the American Civil War—lasted longer. Its toll of lives, far above 1,000,000, and property, involving tragic dislocation for the most populous nation on earth, already has given it a place among the most destructive wars of history. Apparently realisation has come to the Japanese that, they cannot carry their campaign to a conclusive success. They have overrun and now control immense areas of the mainland, but there is not the slightest evidence of weakening on the part of the Chinese. This is admitted to-day by a leading Tokio journal, which “ abandons hope of overcoming China through force,” and advocates the putting forth of peace efforts. The difficulties that stand in the way of achieving anything effective in this way are indicated by the Japanese Ambassador in China, who says that Chungking demands the wholesale withdrawal of troops before negotiations can begin. The suggestion is made that peace is only possible through the strengthening of the Nanking regime, which Japan intends to do. It is difficult to see how this can be accomplished. The - Quisling puppet Government was set up at Nanking by Japanese intrigue, but so far as can be gathered it. has no more than small local influence. The great mass of the people who are not fighting are passive resisters. From the beginning the Chinese command has declared that tho conflict would be in three stages Japanese invasion, then stalemate, and finally Chinese- resurgence. The first phase, it is. declared, ended by October, 1938, when the Japanese captures of Hankow and Canton carried the tide of conquest to high-water mark. There have been two years of stalemate. Chinese say that, the third phase, in which they hope to roll the invaders back to the sea, is approaching. A prominent Japanese, discussing the southward policy of his country, says that an American and Japanese collision is a foregone conclusion. That is Very doubtful. By threats and much talk generally Japan is giving support to the Axis, but commentators that live in the East declare that she will never go to war at the bidding of her partners. Japan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world under the new military conditions that have arisen through the development of aircraft. Incendiary bombing could play havoc with her flimsily-constructed cities. Japan has vast ambitions, but these have received a severe check through the folly of her statesmen in launching the unprovoked campaign against the Chinese.