The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-24
NeV Book Exposes
Anti Soviet War
.DriVe by Japan

Scores of books and pamphlets |
have discussed this subject in Japan
in the past year, o. Tanin and E.
Yohan declare in their book, Mill |
tarism and Fascism in Japan" just |
issued by International Publishers.
The book studies the historical
background of fascism in Japan, !
analyses the class roots of fascist T!
groups and parallels the rise of fas-
cism with the world crisis.
Noted Soviet Orientalists, the au-
thors throw a white light on the
place of Japan in the drive for i'm
perialist war and especially as a
leading instigatof of war against
the Soviet Union. Arguments in
favor of these two alternatives" the
authors show, conceal the concrete
interests of the various groups
among the ruling classes in Japan"
They point out that the Japanese
occupation of Manchuria could
serve as springboard for war
either against the U.s.A. or the
U.SS.R. and for that reason was
supported unanimously by all Sec
tons of Japan's ruling class.
On the other hand, exporting,
shipping, ship-building and certain
banking interests, whose aspirations
were voiced more by the Naval
chiefs, were interested more in the
Shanghai invasion of February,
1882. These groups are interested
primarily in gaining possession of
the Central Chinese market = an
aim which inevitably involves a
Japanese-American conflict"
kDMIRAL SHIOzAWA'S action
n in Shanghai, which led to the
events of February March, 1892, was
| regarded by Japanese opinion as
calculated to start a war with the
United States which would prove
extraordinarily profitable for Japan
under the existing circumstances.
At the same time the naval circles,
which have long been preparing for
such a war, consider it wise not to
force events in the North, and, tenn
porarily, to come to terms with the
US.S,R. as regards Manchuria and
Mongolia, of course on the assump-
ton that Manchukuo would be rec
ognized.
"a different stand is taken by
those circles in the bourgeois land
owner camp which are interested in
maintaining friendly relations with
the United States, as, for instance,
silk manufacturers and exporters
(many of the latter are landowners
as WELD; further, those sections of
the financial bourgeoisie which have
direct investments in Korea. Man
churia, and Mongolia, and are
forming plans for expansion on the
mainland by agreement with the
U,S.A. and at the expense of the
U.S.S.R. A special place in this
group is occupied by those sections
Of the japanese bourgeoisie which
are interested in the flsh, timber,
oil and other resources of the Soviet
Far East. The position taken by
this group is strengthened by the
true consideration that in war
against the U.S.SR. Japan may
count upon the very considerable
aid of even those powers with which
she completes.
"THE military circles which most
consistently express the inter
ests of this bourgeois and agrarian
group, advance the following as the
principal arguments in favor of a
Japanese Soviet war: Cd a war
with the United States would in
volve the ruin of ten million peas
ants who cultivate silk worms; 90
Great Britain and France would
not permit Japan to strengthen its
hold in the Far East at the expense
of the American colonies, while they
would, on the contrary, gladly sup
port war against the Soviet
Union; (3) the securing of Man.
churia to aJpan which is matter
of life or death for Japan, is i'm
possible unless Primorye and the
Priamur area are also seized; a.
in another five years the Soviet
Union will be strong enough to die
tate it's own Far Eastern policy; 90
it is possible to come into economic
contact with the United States in
order to secure capital for the ex-
ploitation of Manchuria and ST.
beria
What then do the ruling classes
of Japan consider to be the factor
stimulating the growth of the ma
! tional revolutionary struggle for
/ liberation in China and in Man
churia in particular? The revolu-
tionizing influence of the U.S.SR.
upon colonial countries, particularly
on China. This influence is I'M
avoidable; it is result of the very
existence of the Soviet Union, how
ever rigidly, however consistently
the Soviet Union may maintain its
policy of non-interference in the
Far Eastern conflict. Further, the
seizure of the Soviet Far East,
which would convert the Sea of
Japan into an inland sea and
which would provide a firm base
on the mainland for Japan. would
be strategically desirable conditions
for the impending Japanese Amer
lean war. Consequently, not only
to the supporters of the second ten
dency, but even to some of the
representatives of the first, a war
with the Soviet Union appears in
evitable. And actually it is for this
reason that Jspan's war prepara-
lions are aimed primarily against
the U.S.S.R"