POTENTIAL DANGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26909, 22 October 1948, Page 5

POTENTIAL DANGER

Japanese Under Communist Domination

WARNING TO DEMOCRACIES

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. NEW YORK, Oct. 20. “ For Communist nations to gain possession of Japan would signify to the United States, the Philippines, Canada and Australia the loss of the Second World War and potential defeat in the Pacific in any future war that might he forced upon us,” said Lieutenant-general Robert Eichelberger in a speech at Chicago. General Eichelberger, who was a former commander of the American Occupation Army in Japan, said: “If Japan, under its military domination was a vicious enemy, we must remember it could become a powerful friend. I do not like to think of Japan as an ally in war, although that is possible, but rather that we build up a great reservoir of friendship and respect which would act as a deterrent to those who entertain no desire to fight on two fronts.”

General Eichelberger said that when in Japan the welfare of his own country obscured to him all other issues. He was glad to see the inculcation of democratic ideals among the Japanese, but that was not of the slightest value “ unless in a time of danger we can rely upon Japan being at least a friendly neutral,” he added.