PROBLEM OF JAPAN

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1943, Page 4

PROBLEM OF JAPAN

Interest in Britain MUCH LESS THAN IN U.S.A. (Rec. 9.10) NEW YORK, Nov. 26. The “New York Times” London correspondent states: Marshal Chiang Kai-shek has been invited to participate in the meeting of Messrs Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin. The Chinese leader will not take part in discussions about Europe, but he will participate with Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill in their Far Eastern talks However, all four leaders are expected to join in any communique that is issued at the end of the conference. It is felt in London that it is no less necessary to discuss possible peace terms with Japan, ana ways and means of controlling the Japanese after the war, than it is to reach a definite conclusion about Europe. There is considerable satisfaction in official circles in London about the prospect of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s participation; but the fact remains that the British people as a whole .are so pre-occupied with the task of beating the Germans that they have acquired very little understanding of the many forces that are operating in the Pacific. This has disturbed the Bri-. tish Government, which is aware that the percentage of those who place the Pacific war first is in the United States comparatively high. The result of this is that dangers might arise between Britain and America if Britain should tend to a let-down after Hitler’s defeat. Faced with this problem, in a country that has not, in the past, paid overmuch attention to the Pacific war, the British Government are now looking for opportunities, not only to lay final plans foi' the Pacific war but to convince their (people that additional sacrifices are needed after Hitler’s defeat. Indeed Marshal ‘Chiang Kai-shek’s participation in the conference is expected to do much to prepare Britain for the war in the Pacific, after what they call “the war.”