Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1945. SAPS?

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1945, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1945. SAPS?

CONGRESSMEN are asking Britain if she takes Americans for saps, when presenting her case for financial aid to meet the expenses incurred in defending Democracy’s cause, alone for a time, and throughout the six years of war, with all heir resources. There is more reason to regard Britons as; saps in doing so much for others and in assuming burdens beyond their fair share. U.S.A.’s demand is justified that if she is generous to Britain, those countries in the sterling area, like Egypt and India, which have become creditors of Britain, because of the latter’s war expenditure, must also cancel part of the debt. Negotiations have only just begun, and little official information is be-

ing given, Ayith the usual consequence that newspaper correspondents predict success or failure in turn, of the whole Washington business. It will be surprising if some workable compromise is not reached. American people will also be inquiring, and with more reason, as to whether the Japanese regard them as saps, willing to accept the Japanese assertions of future friendship and agree to forgive and forget Pearl Harbour and all the horrors of the Pacific war. Oriental guile never went further than Prime Minister Hyashi Kuni’s reply to an American journalist, in which the Japanese unfolds his plan for the ideal Japan to be formed from the present ruins. Americans Avid appreciate the standard of salesmanship in the Prime Minister’s statement, but would be foolish to accept the bait, meanwhile. The future Japan may be peace-loving, if only because she will find it difficult for years to become militarily efficient, but there is little evidence of real contrition for, or acknowledgment of, misdeeds. At this stage. Io ask for U.S.A, capital and technicians to restore what has been destroyed is sheer effrontery.

The stories told by prisoners of war ITom General Wainwright downwards, will not influence Americans, or British Empire people, to be ultra-kind to the defeat od foe, nor to believe that a. nation so brutal and savage in victory, can become almost, angelic overnight after defeat. 11 in years to come the Japanese demonstrate the sincerity of their reform, all well and good, but meanwhile, the Allies must be “tough." General MacArthur has denied that he is more magnanimous to the Japanese than present circumstances compel, and there is no reason to doubt his word. The task of- occupation was not expected to be easy, and it is to the credit of General MacArthur and his troops that no serious incidents have yet occurred. The series of arrests of leading Japanese and tbe suicides of others, are evidence of a firm attitude on the part of the American administrators, and it is reasonable to suppose that these first steps will be followed by others along the path of enforcing on the Japanese the fact that they and their country are under American control. Lord Mountbatten has given orders showing that he will stand no nonsense from the Japanese, and is not disposed to accept at face, value, the statements by Japanese commanders and leaders. Public opinion in U.S.A, and British lands must be wary of attempts by Japanese and the ultra-sentimental among the English-speaking races, to make easy the path of the transgressors who deserve the harshest of treatment.