JAPAN’S RECANTATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1934, Page 3

JAPAN’S RECANTATION

COMMUNISTS QUITTING. The expected “crisis of 1935,” as Japanese newspapers unite in describing it, is wiping out the effects of a decade of patient Soviet propaganda in Japan. Naturally the “thought police'' claim credit for the suppression of Communism. But there has been a corresponding increase in dangerous thoughts along the line of a reactionary and Fascist nationalism, which makes it appear that the change is to be credited not to the “thought police,” but to the approaching emergency, wiites Willard Price in the New York “Herald Tribune.” Japan expects trouble next year. In the naval conference she will have to light for naval parity. Wlicn her resignation from the League becomes effective she means to hold the mandated islands. She, anticipates that criticism on the Manchurian question may come to a Head, And she does not look for smooth sailing in her relations with Soviet Russia. In short, it.may.be Japan against the world next year!

This apprehension has aroused a patriotism that has had a blighting effect upon Communism. The Kyoto Imperial University student, known as a Communist, who suddenly appeared in a black shirt as evidence of his change of faith, typified the passing of a vogue. Communism has been a fad among Japanese students. It was something new, different, imported. There was the zest of danger in it. They approved of it because the “thought police’ did not. Few of them knew much or cared much about it. It satisfied the “secret society”- instinct of a schoolboy. It prospered because of suppression.

And now it is dying in spite of suppression.

The conclusion of statesmen that Communism; has been a superficial vogue in Japan is based upon the following significant facts and figures:

Since 1928 a total of . more than 36,000 Communists have been arrested. Of these 27,000 were so shallowly rooted in Communism that they recanted at once and were released. About 3000 were indicted. Up to date all but SOO ci’ these have recanted. Several trials are yet to be held, and, on the basis oi past experience,' it is expected that all but perhaps 200 of these steadfasts will renounce their faith-before or during their trials. Iv.o bundled remaining true out of 31,000!

Why does not, Japan raise up maityrs to Communism? Do Japanese lack the courage oi martyrdom? Does the prospect of punishment dismay them? Out of 30,000 why do only 800 held to their faith, and they unsteadily? When a prisoner recants on the eve cl trial the obvious conclusion is that his profession of conversion is insincere; He wants to escape prison and death. That seems obvious until one takes the Japanese character into consideration. No people on earth court death as do the Japanese. It Lakes only a moderate amount of righteous indignation to cause a Japanese zealot to plunge a sword into his abdomen. Young ..men displeased with the. London Naval, Treaty kill themselves at the doors Of the statesmen who negotiated it. Hara-kiri is

known throughout the world, along with the cherry blossom, as characteristic of Japan. Last year there were 331 suicides in Mihara Volcano alone. The code'of a Japanese soldier is death rather than surrender. No, Japanese do not lack the courage to die. Nor are they easily shaken from a purpose—witness their tenacity in the Manchurian adventure. Let a true Japanese get his teeth locked on the bit of a conviction and he will hold to it through hell and high water.

Then why do they not hold to Communism'.'' Because Communism in Japan is a conceit, not a conviction. Doubtless there are some insincere recanters. But in most cases the recanting is probably genuine—it was the Communism that was insincere. Communism in most countries has grown out of poverty and need. There is plenty of that in Japan, but Communism did not grow out of it. It is not a product of the soil. It is an intellectual import from Russia. It attracted not chiefly the exploited workers and starving farmers, but the students. Planted in the country by the '1 hird International as the result of a conference of Japanese Socialists in Moscow in 1922, it has always been a foreign growth. Until 1929 it was entirely supported by funds from Russia. Efforts since that time io raise funds in Japan have largely failed.

EASILY RENOUNCED

Students have thoroughly enjoyed Communism. They sing the song of the Communism, written to the tune of “Maryland, My Maryland.” They make speeches. Reserves are called from Ihe nearest police- station—by a Communist himself if no one else will call them. They arrive; without them it would not be a party. They demand that the orators cease. They do not cease. The police mark them, and all other swho appear active, on the back with, white chalk. Every time one distributes a handbill, applauds, or in some other way shows active interest, .he is chalk marked by the nearest officer. At the end those with the most marks win a trip to the police station. There- they are asked some very entertaining questions and generally released with a warning And a good time has been had by all.

That is not Communism —it is only mischief. But mischief lw a way of leading on by easy stages to burning, pillage, and assassination. The spoitloving student finds himself gradually involved in deep plots, probably of foreign invention. Piison doors close on him. In the quiet of his cell he sees his “Communism” in its true perspective as only a game that has now been played out—and he sincerely renounces it. Thus the red weed comes up with one good jerk on the Japanese conscience. It has never been able to take firm root because the soil is already full of the black, staunch, allabsorbing roots of Japanese nationalism. Particularly as friction grows between Japan and Russia, Soviet ideas become less acceptable to the Japanese who is loyal—and what son of Nippon is not? So the radical who must eat fire is changing his diet from Communism to an intense patriotism which would, if necessary, assassinate corrupt politicians, abolish political parties and unite the nation under control of the one force that still represents the old

samurai spirit of Bushido —the Japanese, army.

Numerous proletarian societies, have abandoned their anti-war slogans and turned reactionary. The movement to “restore Japan to ancient and better ways” is sweeping through the schools. In the universities groups have .been formed under the military instructors to read old novels, practise the manly art of judo (jiu-jitsu) and study ways to make the Island of Japan truly insular, secure against the world that she has too much imitated.

And reactionaries do not recant. Of all the patriotic assassins brought to trial during recent months for the murder of Japanese statesmen in 1932 and 1933, not one has been penitent.

Whereas two years ago there 'were scarcely twenty Fascist organisations of importance in Japan, there are now, according to investigations by the economist, Ryotaro Iwai, more than a. hundred large, active organisations and several hundred minor societies.

And the chief rite in all these gi onps is the prayer mooting. Beware of a movement that centres around the prayer meeting! Communism has no prayer meeting. It lacks the religious fervour of the new nationalism which has all the fire of a, Methodist camp meeting. If it continues to blaze —and there is no indication that it will not—Japan will come to the parleys of 1935 in a white heat of conviction. International adjustments will be exceedingly difficult, for to the consecrated there is only one right way, and it is impossible to recant.