Japan and the War in Russia

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 4

Japan and the War in Russia

THE GERMAN ARMY’S new offensive in Russia has been accompanied by signs of growing restlessness in Japan. Some of the more extreme elements in Tokyo feel that the time has come to take a decisive step towards fulfilling what they regard as their destiny to rule the eastern Pacific. According to a Chinese report, Japan now has 32 divisions in Manchukuo ready to move against Soviet Siberia. If the Germans achieve any decisive success in the west, she may find it hard to resist the temptation to launch an attack in the east. By doing so she would please her Axis partner and gain fox’ herself a voice in the distribution of the plunder if Russia is defeated. It is true that in April last Japan entered into a neutrality agreement for five years with Russia and that both countries pledged themselves to maintain peaceful and friendly relations and to respect each other’s territorial integrity and inviolability. They also agreed to maintain peace in Outer Mongolia and Manchukuo. But Japan, like Germany, never hesitates to break her pledged word when she thinks an act of aggression will pay. She cynically broke all her international pledges when she invaded China. In fact, one of the most tragic features of the modern world is the breakdown of international good faith and morality. Until the Axis Powers can be taught that bad faith and broken promises prevent the creation of any world order, nothing but chaos can exist. Even when they are beaten on sea and land the question will remain what reliance can be placed on any pledges they may make. Selfinterest alone will guide their courses of action. Nevertheless, however much Japan may desire to capitalize on the distress of Russia there are several factors that must make her pause. First, Russia has a powerful self-

contained army on her Eastern front specially set apart to check aggression by Japan, and so far as is known this great army has not been drawn into the war against Germany. Second, on a previous occasion in 1917 Japan invaded Soviet territory in the Far East but burned her fingers badly. The adventure ended in disaster and the Japanese were expelled with great loss. Third, all Japan’s hopes and ambitions have been shattered by the four years’ war in China which has drawn deeply on her economic and military resources. The latest reports from China indicate still further heavy losses by Japan. Indeed, it is clear that her whole position as a world power has been imperilled by her failure to extricate herself from this ill-starred adventure. This paralysis of Japan in China must have farreaching consequences not merely in Asia but in the European conflict. For she has lost the initiative, and whichever way she moves she increases her peril. If she seeks to extend her southern move in IndoChina and Thailand she is liable to be checkmated by the United States and Great Britain. Both these Powers can with greater freedom resist aggression by Japan now that they are in alliance with Russia. Finally, their refusal to supply her with raw materials imposes something like an economic blockade. So completely has she bungled her attempts to create a new order in the Far East that her ally, Germany, must now regard her with almost as much exasperation and dismay as she does Italy. In short, if Japan makes any attempt to reap illgotten gains from Russia’s preoccupation ffn the west it can only be a desperate gamble.