TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1941. JAPAN’S HESITANCY.

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4475, 10 September 1941, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU COURIER. Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1941. JAPAN’S HESITANCY.

IT is an intriguing- suggestion which has been advanced from Batavia that certain responsible elements in the Japanese Government would gladly grasp the opportunity of negotiations to rid Japan of her Axis partners. It is one, nevertheless, which it would be unwise to take very seriously. It may be true, as is stated, that Japan has suffered severely from her association with Germany and Italy. It may also be true that there is a body of official opinion in Tokio which believes that Japan would be better occupied in seeking to develop her enormous trade opportunities in the Pacific than in hazarding the loss of all in untimely military adventures. But there seems small reason to assume that any fundamental change has taken 'place in recent weeks in the declared Japanese policy of imperialistic expansion. When Prince Konoye reconstructed his Cabinet in the middle of July the generally accepted view in Washington and London was that the changes were not the result of either a popular or a parliamentary revulsion from the Government’s policy. Rather was it inferred that they were the outcome of differences within the Cabinet itself as to the plans by which the Japanese aim of Far Eastern domination might be furthered. For many years Japan has seen herself in the role of ruling Power in an Asiatic “ new order?’ In a message published immediately after the new Cabinet took office Prince Konoye said: “ With the earnest support of a hundred million Japanese I intend to do everything in my power to accomplish the great ideal on which the foundation of our Empire was based by overcoming all difficulties that may lie in my country’s path.” He spoke also of the Japanc-se policy for coping with the international situation having been fixed. All that remained, he added, was for the Government to put it into operation ** with decision and speed.” The threat to the security of Thailand, since actively developed, certainly implies that the Premier’s words were intended to be taken at their face value. There has, nevertheless, bsen hesitancy in Japanese policy since the British, United States and Netherlands Governments took prompt steps to counter a move into Thailand, and this hesitancy is certain to be related to the wide discrepancy between German promise and perfor mance in the past seven months of war. The Nazis had assured Tolso that Great Britain’s position in the Mediterranean was to be destroyed for which reason Japanese attacks On Singapore and the Straits Settlements were urged. Japan had also been pressed to attack Russian coincidentally with the launching of the German offensives in Eastern Europe, the assumption being that a swift Russian collapse was inevitable. But these German assurances have been proved worthless. Moreover, American and British supplies have continued to flow to all the Far Eastern centres of actual or potential resistance to Japan. There is reason in these facts for loss of confidence by Japan in the worth of her Axis partnership. But, although this may account for her present uncertainty, there are no reasonable grounds for assuming that there has been any major change in her basic policy of southward expansion. Mr Cordell Hull has explained that while informal talks are in progress with Japan concerning differences in the Pacific, the United States

is not prepared to compromise in any way on fundamental principles or policies. He has indicated, in brief, that the era of appeasement is definitely at an end. In these circumstances Japan will have to make her own decisions as to whom and how she will move to accomplish her “ great ideals.” If she remains hesitant it will be because she is unwilling to risk an actual “ show-down ” with the Powers confronting her in the Pacific without the prospect of any effective support from her Axis “ friends ” in Europe.