Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1942. FUTURE OF ASIA.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 March 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1942. FUTURE OF ASIA.

yuE Japanese have had many

advantages'in the present campaign, and not the least is the influence of many years’ propaganda to induce Asiatic races to throw off submission to the Europeans. The Japanese slogan of “Asia for the Asiatics,” really means “Asia for the Japanese,” but it was not to be expected that this would be clear to their dupes, who readily fell to the invitation to secure selfgovernment. The Japanese are the last nation to grant this right, but, meanwhile, they pose as deliverers and benefactors. As a consequence, the natives of the various countries invaded have not been helpful to the Whites, and in some instances have been actually hostile.

Never more than a comparative handful ruling over millions, the Europeans to-day find the task beyond them, and until reinforcements in large numbers arrive, the Japanese are likely to remain successful. Malaya, Burma, Thailand and Java, are countries where the natives have not rallied against the Japanese, and those who calculated to the contrary are paying dearly for their mistake. Another advantage for the Japanese is the large number of their own nationals in the lands referred to, as well as in other Allied territories. For

example, the last United States | census showed that there were over 70,000 Japanese residents who had been born in Japan. Their descendants probably exceeded that number and, nominally, are citizens of the American Republic. And there are over 180,000 Japanese in Hawaii, most of whom are potential fifth columnists. Over a long period, Japanese espionage and trickery have been active, and dealing with these foes at home will be no easy matter for the Allies. Happily, Australia and New Zealand have few Japanese within their borders, but past hospitality to visitors may now prove to have been dangerous. Whether the Whites will ever regain their lost prestige in Asia is doubtful. Memory of what the Japanese achieved will remain with the one-time subject races, who will demarfd greater liberty. In India, there has long been an agitation for freedom, and recent events will strengthen this attitude. It has been argued that the Whites have no right to be masters anywhere in Asia, and that their presence there is mainly to exploit the wealth and resources of the respective countries. This may be true to some extent, but it cannot be denied that, on the whole, the enterprise and guardianship by the European have been beneficial Io llic Asiatics, who otherwise would have reverted to the former misrule, corruption and serfdom.

India and China are the two lands that will dominate Asia in future. India will probably remain in the British Empire, with full self-government, although much internal controversies will have to be settled before India can be full mistress in her own household. China, after her heroic struggle against the Japanese, will be entitled to the return of all territory taken or “leased” from her by other Powers, and will have to be regarded as an equal by those nations which have hitherto, denied her such status. At present, the main hope of defeating the Japanese on land depends on China and India, thus the importance ol Kai-shek’s recent, visit to India, cannot be too greatly stressed. The immediate task of the Democracies in Asia is to defeat the -Japanese, but it is well to realise now that when this is accomplished, there can be no return of the era when the Whites were dominant in Asia. “Asia for the Asiatics” will have to be the ideal accepted in all sincerity bv the .Europeans,