Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1940. JAPANESE POLICY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1940, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1940. JAPANESE POLICY.

of, and references to, possible early aggression towards the Dominion, which come from Ministers and Defence officials, turn the thoughts of most New Zealanders, to one country, mainly, and that is Japan. Presumably, there is warrant for these intimations, although perhaps their main object is to minimise national complacency regarding safety during Avar time. It is reassuring to reflect over the difficulties any distant nation would have in attempting actual invasion of this country, although there is always she possibility of a raider doing serious mischief. It is better to be sure than sorry, and full support should be given to movements having for their object mak-'

ing the way of an enemy doubly difficult.-

Any inclined to be nervous about aggression from the Far East, will find consolation in the fact that the Empire’s forces based at, or near, Singapore have been immensely strengthened of late’, and that important conferences have taken place between British service chiefs. This demonstrates that Britain will not be caught napping. The mastery of the Mediterranean may make it easier to provide naval reinforcements in the Far East, if considered necessary, and moreover, the U.S.A, fleet is handy, if serious trouble arose. The Dutch vessels based on the East Indies are not to be despised, and, generally, an aggressive move southward appears less probable. Sir John Latham.’s arrival in Japan, as the first appointed Australian Minister, has coincided with the announcement of the appointment as Japanese Minister to Australia of M. Tatsuo Kawai, former Ambassador-at-large and spokesman of the Foreign Ministry. He has had a distinguished diplomatic career in China and the United States. This choice of representatives does not suggest that Japan has any early plan of invasion of these parts, and it is to be hoped that the new Ministers will bring about better relations between their respective nations. Australia has long been more pro-Japanese-than any other Overseas Dominion, realising perhaps that the Commonwealth would be in a dangerous position if Anglo-Jap-anese misunderstandings developed into something worse. Not that Australia places friendship with Japan above her Empire connection and its duties.

At the opening of the Japanese Diet, this week, the Emperor referred to the Tripartite Paet, and expressed pleasure at the closer intercourse with the Axis Powers. Just what these words meant is difficult to define, and, possibly, they were mainly conventional politeness. The Diet was instructed to support the Cabinet, just reorganised,—and the Emperor’s word is law. Commentators do not agree if the Cabinet changes are pro-Axis, or otherwise, but in face of the Italian collapse, enthusiasm in Japan for the Pact must have dwindled. Germany could do little to help Japan if the war extended to the Far East, except to keep Russia quiet. The war in China is not going too well with the Japanese, and the long sustained deadlock is very costly to Japan. How a further war could be financed is difficult to see. Summed up, it does not appear probable that those favouring a Japanese early southward advance will get much support, but should the militarists force the nation into such a reckless gamble, little pro,fit would be forthcoming to Japan. Her real interests would be furthered by friendship with U.S.A, and Britain, but this can be obtained only by a surrender of Japanese ambitions to attain mastery in East Asia, with reversion to more distant possessions, in due course. In any case, it does not seem probable that any important Japanese decision will be announced, until more definite results are forthcoming, in Europe.