NETHERLANDS REJECTS JAPAN’S OFFER

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 6 February 1941, Page 6

NETHERLANDS REJECTS JAPAN’S OFFER

Japan’s invitation to the Netherlands East Indies to participate in the “ new order ” in East Asia has been rejected by General Pabst, Netherlands Minister at Tokio, on instructions from the Dutch Government. This decision helps to clarify the Far Eastern position and throws the onus of any further action back on the Japanese. Persuasion having failed, will the Japanese feel sufficiently confident to attempt to force the issue ? The invitation was obviously only a test of Netherlands opinion, and the Japanese Press professes no surprise at the rejection in view of the fact that the Dutch Government is domiciled in Britain. In endeavouring to gather the reins of the Far Eastern position into their hands the Japanese had good reasons for making an early proposition to the Netherlands East Indies. Those islands produce in large quantities many of the commodities which are essential to Japanese military and economic strength, and particularly petrol. If the East Indies could have been included in the nucleus of a new Far Eastern economic unit, Japan’s position would have been strengthened materially and she could have faced further “ developmental ” schemes with much greater confidence. There is no doubt that the rejection of the invitation is a serious disappointment to Japan. The question will now arise whether any other of the countries coming within the scope of Japan’s ambitions will be any more amenable to Tokio’s overtures. There are clearly temporary economic advantages Tor the Netherlands East Indies in accepting collaboration with the Japanese, but fortunately the Dutch people can see beyond the immediate future. The main interests of the East Indies have always lain with the Western world, and particularly with Holland itself. Dutchmen in the Indies are not prepared to accept the view that Holland has been eclipsed permanently, and they are not willing to tie themselves to a Far Eastern economic bloc, when they fully believe that they can maintain their own independence and that Holland will again emerge as a national entity entitled to and able to command its own empire. The next step lies with Japan, and any attempt to force the East Indies into the “ new order ” will mean that Japan has thrown wise caution to the winds.