The Evening Star SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1945. UNREPENTANT.

Evening Star, Issue 25565, 18 August 1945, Page 6

The Evening Star SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1945. UNREPENTANT.

Settling down to the work of reconstruction after their victory celebrations, the United Nations cannot fail to note that tho Japanese, still engaged in that curious Oriental custom of " saving face," show no signs of having abandoned the aggressive policy they have followed for the last quarter of a century. Yesterday we had occasion to remark that the Emperor's broadcast was not a promising beginning to an era of peace, and since then evidence has accumulated that the recent Pacific enemy does not repent of his ferocious attacks on peace-loving peoples. Tho Japanese mentality still lies beyond the comprehension of the western mind, and therein lies the danger to futuro peace—that an implacable, cunning, and fanatically nationalistic irace will continue to burn with the desire to avenge its humiliation. Every action by the Pacific aggressor since the surrender has been designed to maintain the argument, so strongly fostered by the Germans, after the previous war, that its armies were not defeated. Hirohito's _ broadcast was phrased in terms which almost suggested that Japan's wild rampage in the Pacific was a service to humanity, and it has been followed by such provocative statements from the Tokio radio as " "We have lost, but this is temporary," and "The war has been lost through Japanese laclcof material and scientific strength, which must be amended." Then the despatch of an envoy to sign the surrender agreement has been markedly delayed, and tho impudent Tokio warning to the Allies not to come too near to Japan has been followed by deliberate attacks on American reconnaissance planes over the capital city. All these things add up to an attitude of belligerence intolerablo in a defeated nation. General MacArthur -lias be.en wise to _ break in on these delaying tactics with a curt order to the Government to stop_ arguing and obey his explicit instructions promptly. There can be little doubt that the statements from Tokio radio have been designed for home consumption; but they are none' the less disturbing for that reason. No warning to the Japanese people by their own authorities that their country is to he occupied militarily by Allied forces has been reported, and the impression appears to have been conveyed that they are merely required to lay down their arms temporarily while preparing for another and more powerful assault according to the precedent established by Germany after the last war. By degrees, however, in facesaving style, the Japanese people will probably be told_ of the full "extent of their humiliation.

During the occupation there will be danger that the industry _ and politeness of the people may induco the Allies to forget the bitter record of cruel, despotic aggression. It is in the highest degree unlikely that there will be any genuine repentance or change of heart in a nation which has, during recent years, shown such fanatical characteristics. The Japanese present a more difficult problem in re-education to peaceful ways than the Germans, because it is even less easy with them to penetrate through the veneer of civilisation to the barbarians that lie beneath. The testing- time will not come during the military occupation, but in the subsequent years when this arrogant nation regains control of its land. The early reactions of the Japanese to their defeat have been disquieting, and the United Nations will be wise to take heed at once to the danger to world peace of any future chances for aggression! \