The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1941 Japans Statement Of Policy

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1941, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1941 Japans Statement Of Policy

THE situation in the Far East is of such immediate importance to the peoples of the Pacific that the meeting of the Japanese Diet held on Monday to discuss Japan's relations with the democratic Powers has aroused keen interest in New Zealand in comjnon with the British Empire as a whole. it is not unreasonable to say that the report of the proceedings in the Diet has left the question very much where it was. Japan, according to a speech made by the Prime Minister, General Tojo, is anxious for peace and desirous of ensuring that the nations of the Pacific shall live permanently on terms of friendliness and goodwill. That is an admirable desire, to which there will be universal assent, but unfortunately Japan’s conditions precedent to the much-desired consummation are such as to defeat it.

General Tojo laid down four points necessary for a settlement in the Pacific. These are so opposed to the line which Britain and the United States must follow in the interests of self-defence and liberty that they cannot be conceded. In the first place, Japan asks for a clear field in China. She demands that Britain and the United States shall go back upon their undertaking to assist China to oppose Japanese aggression. That cannot be done. There is no room for argument in this connection. Then Japan demands the lifting of the economic blockade which forms an integral feature of the pressure exerted by the democracies. That demand cannot be considered until Japan, on her part, has taken the steps required to warrant the lifting of the blockade, which, General Tojo admits, is virtually bringing Japan’s trade to a standstill. Japan’s third demand is that Britain, the Netherlands East Indies and the United States shall promise to end encirclement. In making this demand, Japan has set up a straw man in order that she may knock him down, for, as everybody knows, no attempt has been made to encircle Japan. The only steps taken by the nations referred to were taken when it was obvious that Japan intended to adopt a strategic plan which, if allowed to mature, would place the democracies at a serious disadvantage. Desire to encircle Japan, in order to defeat her legitimate aspirations, has never influenced Britain or the United States or the Netherlands East Indies, which have indicated plainly their desire to promote friendly relations between the peoples of the Pacific.

The fourth and final condition laid down by Japan for a settlement in the Pacific is “the restoration of normal trade, which is vital to Japan.” It is in Japan’s power to promote this restoration: she must satisfy the other Powers that she will remove the cause of the imposition of the blockade and other conditions that are obviously crippling to her today. General Tojo is apparently aware of this, but, in his speech to the Diet, he tried to place upon Britain, the United States and the. Netherlands East Indies the onus of removing the effects of their policy while allowing the cause of it to remain. General Tojo emphasised that an economic blockade as between non-belligerents constitutes a measure little less hostile in character than armed warfare, and that Japan therefore faces a very serious situation, where she must decide her course for generations to come.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr, Togo, went further, saying that Japan’s relations with the United States had grown progressively worse, and, unless checked, the situation might end in catastrophe. He added that as the two nations were well aware of the views of each other, there was no need to spend much time on negotiations from now on, and he threw out a threat that if an occasion should arise which might menace the Japanese Empire or compromise the prestige of Japan as a great Power, it would be faced firmly and resolutely.

There the matter stands. It cannot be stressed too often that the democracies are anxious to maintain friendly relations with Japan and to promote co-operation in the preservation of peace in the Pacific, but there is a point beyond which it is impossible for them to go. Japan has the next move.