JAPAN AND WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 27

JAPAN AND WAR

CO THE EDITOR

Sir—Once more "Patriotic New Zealander” attempts to justify the brutalities of Japan in China with an utter callousness towards the sufferings of our fellow human beings that moves to mingled disgust and indignation. He is, however, beating the die, is he may convince his own co-

religionists, but certainly not reading and thinking men and women capable of forming their own judgments. Once more I repeat what I have said before regarding his letters on Abyssinia and Japan, in his defence of the unspeakable cruelties perpetrated by Italians and Japanese, that there is no evidence in them of any ethical judgment on his part. This last letter extols the successes of Japan. Let us, for argument’s sake, accept what he says as the truth. What does it amount to? Simply this —his argument is that success always justifies crime and exonerates the criminal.

The only hope for humanity is the sovereignty of God. “ The Lord reigneth.” There is the judgment seat of God, and judgment begins with the House of God. The standard by which the deeds of all nations are to be judged—whether we judge them according to it or not —is the eternal divine law of righteousness—the standard of the Ten Commandments, and the Word and Spirit of Christ. Of this ethical standard of judgment “Patriotic New Zealander ” shows not the slightest knowledge, or. at least, recognition. In his next letter will he explain to us why the Vatican is backing. Japan and Italy?—l am, etc., Christian Democrat. Dunedin. June 2.