Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1940. JAPAN’S NEW ORDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 210, 3 August 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1940. JAPAN’S NEW ORDER.

Revolutionary changes in regard to both internal and foreign policy have been officially announced by Japan. Cabinet’s recent resignation did not come as a surprise to Britain or the United States, where it was forecast as the first move (towards the formation in Tokio of a totalitarian Administration'. This has come with unusual speed, discounting the hopes entertained that Prince Konoye might be the last bulwark of those with moderate views. How completely Japan has fallen under the domination of the Army, Navy, and the Air Eorce is now to be clearly seen. She will speedily “establish an unsliakeable national structure of her own adapted to meet the requirements of the new developments both at home and abroad." These new developments of which her Eoreign Minister has spoken are now commonplace; they are in brief the exaltation of the State to the exclusion of everything Democratic countries hold dear. British men and women the Empire over are to-day resisting with all their might the encroachment upon their rights and freedom by this same sinister force under the name of Hitlerism. The New Order will have its foundation in the “solidarity of Japan, Manchukuo, and China as the basic aim of Japan’s foreign policy,” but Erencli IndoCliina and the Netherlands East Indies are also to be included in the “stability zone.” China, it is apparent, is not be consulted on the matter; what Japan says is to be the law in the Ear East, which will extend to other coun - tries’ possessions without their right of ownership being considered. This is the policy of southward penetration that her statesmen insist, under pressure from the war forces, shall be pursued. Internally, the programme seeks the ultimate construction of the totalitarian State.

Japan Las regarded lier conflict in China as a holy war. The Chinese, on the other hand,' regard the Japanese as invaders of their country aggressively determined to bring tlieir vast lands and resources under foreign domination to make them a stronger Power. Japan, says her Minister, is determined to surmount all obstacles in the achievement ■ of her ambitions. There is a distinct menace to the European nations in this state ment. The mission, he adds, is a Heaven-ordained one, enabling all nations and races to find their proper place in the world. Obviously from this Japan regards British and American interests in China as out of their proper place, and Japanese influence the only correct one. Japan, as a commentator recently said, is playing for high stakes, and the decisions taken now will make or mar her relations with her neighbours in the Pacific Ocean far into the future. Prince Ivouoye is a patriot who is in deadly earn-

est about the establishment of Japan’s influence in East Asia, but he is no Anglophobe. There is no doubt whatever that Japan has found her adventure in China something more than she bargained for. More than three years ago she embarked upon it in the hope of a speedy victory which still eludes her commanders. So she is reaching out, now, to establish a New Order suggestive of a Monroe Doctrine for the East, and bringing within it lands that belong to Western Powers. The hand of Hitler lies behind this movement which may have serious repercussions upon the Western Powers whose interests in China should be beyond Japanese aggression.