The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-20
The U. S. and Japan

There is a noticeable change in the japanese
policy of the United States government. The quite
open preparations of the navy department for war
with the Mikado government and the bellicose
declarations of admirals were given a sharp rebuke
by President Coolidge and the enthusiastic recep-
ton given by Secretary of State Hughes to the
appointment Of Tsuneo Matsudaira as Japanese
ambassador to the United States is another warn
ing to the fire eaters to adopt less provocative
tone towards the eastern empire.
Why this change of policy? OF course, super
fetal observers will say that Coolidge and Hughes
represent the elements in American capitalism that
favor more conciatory attitude towards Japan.
But that is not the way the machine works. Cool
idge and Hughes are the leading spokesman and
executives of big business and when they speak
they speak for Wall Street.
There are two possible explanations for the
present attempt of the Washington government to
conciliate Japan. One is the of the Soviet
government diplomacy in China and the need for
bringing Japan into the international ring led by
the United States and having for its object the
more thoro exploitation of China by the capitalist
powers. To make this possible China must be kept
weak and the influence of Soviet Russia there must
be killed. Japan has been drawn into a position
of benevolent neutrality toward the Soviet policy
in China, as result of its strained relations with
the OnlLeu states. but capltallSL Japan KNOWS
that the policy of Communist Russia WILL in the
end, prove fatal to its imperialist ambitions and
Toxic, no doubt, would rather trust to the tender
mercies of the American capitalist devil than to
the deep sea of Communism. For Japanese capital
ism it is only choice between two evils. 1t will
choose the lesser if given a chance. That is what
Coolidge and Hughes are trying to do.
Another possible explanation is the United
States quarrel with Britain over the division of the
loot from Germany thru the operation of the
Dawes plan. After all, England and the United
States are the two leading world capitalist powers
and destined to fight for unquestioned world
supremacy. Behind the flow of honeyed phrases,
the desperate and deadly diplomatic war goes on.
Sometimes the United States plays with France /;
again with Japan. The United States may fight
Japan first, or it may fight England first. Of the
two England is the more powerful enemy and the
most serious competitor for world supremacy.
Soviet Russia is direct challenge to capitalist
rule. The capitalist powers are in an unhappy
position. They have no more confidence in each
other than a gang of burglars. But they have a
well founded fear of Soviet Russia and much tho
they distrust each other their dread of Commun-
ism drives them together for selfprotection
Perhaps either one of the above explanations is
the secret of the soft pedaling the war prepare
tons against Japan. Perhaps both are correct.
And again, it is quite possible the change is more
apparent than real. Assassins are sometimes
known to kiss their victims before they stab them
in the back.