WAR IN PROSPECT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 2

WAR IN PROSPECT

JAPANESE AMBITIONS DISSATISFIED PEOPLE BRITISH VISITOR'S VIEWS The firm belief that war will break out between Japan and the United States is' held by a British business man who was visiting Auckland on his way to Britain after living for many years in Japan. “It will be the best thing that has ever happened for Japan,” he said. “She suffers from acute swelledheadedness, and her regeneration along normal and profitable lines will only come from her inevitable defeat.' A quick survey of many of the salient points of interest in the Japanese situation was given by the visitor, who, like other former residents of Japan, said he appreciated Japanese methods too well to allow his name to be published. However, his long residence in the country and his particular line of business appeared to have given him ample opportunity for forming sound opinions. Territorial Wants Discussing Japan’s territorial ambitLns, he said Japan hacl not yet considered that New Zealand was in her co-prosperity sphere. It looked rather to Canada, the Northern Territory of Australia, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and the Dutch East Indies. It also wanted Siberia.. -and when Japan wanted a country it wanted its land, all that grew on it and all that grew under it. s Thailand was the key to quite a number of things, and so far Japan had been content to fight a diplomatic war against it. Of course, this country was dangerously near Malaya, but he believed Japan would not enter it unless she become quite indifferent to war with the A.B.C.D. Powers, the name she gave to the Allied democracies. However, there was no doubt that, the Japanese generals wanted war, and the people would be obedient to them until the bombs began to fall on their homes.

‘‘The nation as a whole,” he continued, “is sick and tired of war and all those who wage it, but they are gagged because they know that the least sign of dissension or of timid criticism will brand them as Communists and that they will be sent to prison for an indefinite 'period.

Lowered Standard of Living

“Conditions in Japan are extremely precarious. The people cannot get accustomed to eating rice mixed with barley, nor to being rationed for everything eatable or wearable. Cotton, wool and silk are not to be had for love or money. The people are required to invest all their money in the purchase of war bonds. The shops are empty. The people are in despair, but they still do as they are told. “The .position of foreigners, especially British and Americans, is fraught with some danger, for they never know that the morrow will hot find them in gaol. The power of the metropolitan police has been nullified in favour of the gendarmerie, who act as Nazis. Arrival of Germans “It was computed while I was there that there were more than 3000 Germans in Tokio who were employed in some capacity by the Japanese. These Germans came many months ago under the guise of such things as economic and cultural missions, but really they are there to show the Japanese how things are done in Germany. An anti-semitic league has been started in Tokio under General Hayashi. Mass meetings are being held and the Jew-baiting creed is being sown broadcast. “Practically every foreigner who has had any connection with shipping has been arrested or shadowed. The police have questioned the servants of British and American households. In short, we felt we were not only there on sufferance, but that the time had come when we should heed the urgent advice of the British Consul and clear out.

Treatment or Foreigners

“Indicative of the spirit of officialdom was the behaviour of the customs officers to those who have been leaving,’’ the visitor said. “Petty and nasty, they have done wilful damage to the possessions of the British and Americans as they searched their luggage. For instance, my clothes had to be rammed into my wife’s hat-box and our hats were pushed into the suit-cases. A clock was picked up and thrown on the ground. They are small things, but they show that the seed of the anti-British and arttiAmerican propaganda is bearing quick fruit. “There will be war with the United States, and the American senator who said that the American Fleet would finish the Japanese Fleet in 20 minutes or so is talking through his hat. They have a strong fleet. It has been untouched by the war with China. Construction has been surrounded by mystery just as much in Japan as in other parts of the world, but it would bo silly to believe that Japan has not a very strong navy. Too, her sailors are good. They come from an island taco. “1 cannot speak about Iheir gunnery. but I should say their seamanship is first-class. However, when Japan enters war against the United States the horrible Japan of to-day will disappear and a new Japan, the Japan which the Japanese people want, will arise. Defeat in China Inevitable “But even if war does not come with the United States. I firmly believe thai 1942 will bring the destruction of Japan in China. By that time the Chungking authorities will have received not only the aeroplanes and the tanks she wants from the Allies, but .also the men to man them. By this I mean Allied men, not Chinese. “Supplies will come in,” the visitor concluded. “The Russian campaign v/ill make no difference except that it will mean the end of Germany. The Burma road is being' repaired and broadened and a railway is being constructed, by American engineers who are on the spot. Next year, too, the Chinese will have a new army of 2,000,00(1 men in the field. This army has not fought so far. It has spent the last three years in training. Japan may hasten to stop the Chinese plans from coming’ to fruition, but she will fail.”