The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-31
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps-HOward Foreign Editor


BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scripps-Howard Foreign Editor
Copyright 1884. by NEA Service. Incl
TOXIC, March 31.-Here is solved
the riddle of why Japan expects
eventual war with the United
States.
To Americans, this has always
been a profound mystery. They
have not been able to see where the
just aims of the two countries
clashed at any point. Their trade
and other legitimate interests are
complementary, not competitive.
Yet two hemispheres continue as
full of war talk as the atmosphere
above Vesuvius is Of sparks. Espe-
cially does one hear such talk in
Japan. Why?
The answer is: China. Japan be-
lieveS the United States is out to
Checkmate her; to sponsor China
into becoming a great. modern ma
ton; to stand behind China while
that country thWarts the creation
of a japanese empire on the Asiatic
mainland
Way down in their hearts the
japanese believe expansion for them
is matter of national life or death.
Like other peoples, they sincerely
do not want war.
But they are prepared to fight any
power, or any combination of
powers, that stands in the way.
Two Nations Bar Way
They have fought four wars in
recent times-two against China,
one against Russia, and one against
Germany-in pursuit of this policy.
And they will fight another and an
other if necessary to carry it to full
f1llment. The odds against them are
a secondary consideration.
Japan sees two countries in her
way. One is Russia. The other is
the United States.
Britain and France-the other two
major Pacific powers-she does not
fear She might handily come to
terms with them on partition of
China were it not for the Soviet
Union and America.
That is why world chancellerieS
keep on harping on war between
Japan and Russia and Japan and
the United States.
japan has very definitely en-
barked upon a policy calculated to
make her supreme in eastern Asia
and the western Pacific This may
sound like pre-War dream, but
realiSts admit the world has reverted
to pre-war conditions. The post
war peace machinery has broken
down.
Time to Strike Is Near
Unless she breaks out of her own
little islands, Japan reasons, while
the world in general and China in
particular are chaotic, she must be
content to remain there forever
eventually, perhaps, becoming a vas
sal of her colossal neighbor across
the China sea.
While the justice of this may not
be Self-evident, thc logic of it is all
on her side. Also the law of self
preservation.
Partition of China among the
great powers would save Japan. Also
pendent" Chinese states, each under
its own ruler. Or finally, a combi-
nation of these eventuahties
Accordingly, some such process is
under way. Japan has nibbled off
Korea. Manchuria. and Jehol. She
has "demilitarized" all North China.
from the Great Wall to Peiping and
TientSin.
She can foreclose on this territory
whenever she feels like running up
her flag. She is pushing westward
into inner Mongolia and nobody can
tell when and where she will stop.
TightenS Her Hold
Meanwhile, Marking and Toxic
are said to have come to an under
standing. A lot is going on under
the surface. In a word. Japan seems
slowly but surely tightening her
hold on the neighboring mainland.
But, looking ahead, Japan sees
Russia and the United States block
ing her road. Russia is there be-
cause japanese aggression is rapidly
pushing her back from the Pacific,
bottling up Siberia.
Why Japan suspects the United
States, however, is quite another
story.
The notion is all over Japan that
the United States is sitting up
nights trying to undermine her
and this expression is that of one of
the most intelligent and widely
travelled japanese I know. not mine.
A whole succession of things was
pointed out to me. proving to the
japanese way of thinking, that such
is indeed the case.
Point Out U. S. "MenaceS"
First We annexed Hawaii and
built one of the worlds greatest
naval bases there. Next we took
the Philippines pistol pointed at
Japan'S head" was told.
Then We built the Panama canal
so our entire navy could be concen-
trated overnight in the Pacific.
After the usso-JapaneSe war.
the accusation proceeds, an Amer
lean (E. H. Hartmann attempted to
buy the South Manchuria railway.
Later. in 1909, Secretary Of State
Knox proposed the naturalization of
Manchuria.
Both OF these moves, in Japanese
eyes, were suspected, their object be-
ing TO prevent Nippon gaining a
real footwork on the continent,