The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-11
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

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TN our absorption with domestic problems
i issues of relief and the prospect of BOOM
we are likely to lose sight Of the broader aspect
Of world affairs which may upset our domestic
apple cart by a devastating world war.
Outside CT certain European cross currents
and conflicts and certain major sore spots in
postwar Europe. the japanese issue is probably
the outstanding menace to world peace. One
of the most intelligent studies Of the japanese
situation is that by Messrs. o. Tannan and E.
Yohan on "Militarism and FasciSm in Japan
international Publishers. The authors are
leading Russian authorities on the Far East and
are intimately familiar with japanese materials.
They give us a clear history of the rise Of Jap
anese imperialism and militarism discuss the
struggle of classes in Japan, and outline the
prospects for the future of japanese foreign
policy
Perhaps the most interesting aspect Of the
book is the Illuminating contrast between the
DEVELOPMENT Of Fascism in Europe and in Japan.
In Europe the Fascists and the Miltarists are
usually either one and the same thing or else
act with unanimity. In japan, on the contrary,
there is a growing rift between the Militarists
and the BureaucratS on the one hand, and the
middle-class Fascists and their popular sup
porters on the other. Both groups are chauvin-
stic, but if the internal struggle becomes sharp
enough it may paralyze foreign aggression.
IF they unite on their foreign policy the pros
4 pect is decidedly one of a drive against Com
munsm in Siberia and China or a war with the
United States. Hence, the folly of any break
between the United States and Russia. Russo
American unity is the only adequate checkmate
to japanese Imperialism in the Far East,
couraged as it is by certain jealous European
states.
In his Riding the Tiger" (Houghton Milf
film, Henry Carr presents a vivid Journalistic
impression of Sino-Japanese conflict and of the
l.
profound analysis as we discover II the preced-
ing book, but it is an extremely entertaining
and informing collection of impressions of the
contemporary Far East.
Very interesting and significant is his sug
gestion that the intellectual leadership of the
new China is passing from America to Europe
Until now most Of the Cantonese have gone
to America to college. Europe has started a
hard drive to get them The European manu-
facturers found that boys trained with American
machinery come back to China and order Amer
lean machinery for their jobs. Many boys, both
Chinese and japanese, are now going to German
and French universities. They like Germany,
where life seems to be more like Chinese life
than in America"
The reactionary government in England has
been able temporarily to suppress the Indian
nationaliSts and the Ghandi movement. But,
in all probability, it will prove nothing more
than a temporary lull until some definitive solu
ton is arrived at In his THE Epic Fast" (Uni-
verSal Publishing Coz writer under the pSeu-
donym of "Pyarelal" gives a sympathetic
account of Ghandi and his struggles, including
opinions of many of the leading men of India
with respect to the Ghandi movement.
DROBABLY the most valuable body of mate
Il rial on the actual situation in India today
is contained in the report of the delegation sent
to India by the India League in 1882. THE Con-
dition of India" Universal Publishing co...
This represents a frank survey of the whole
situation by eminent English liberals who have
no desire to shield their country. Particularly
devastating is the exposure of the almost in
credibly brutal and filthy prisons in which edu-
Gated and refined Indian Nationalist are herded
along with prostitutes and debased criminals.
The committee contends that the only solution
Of the India problem is self determination
worked out by constituent assembly.
1T is clear, therefore, that if the future held
nothing more than or different from what
present policies contemplate we can look forward
with little hope to any agreeable prospect in
India. Before entertain any such hopes
the essential elements inherent in the present
position, which render a settlement impossible
have to be removed
The way out is in recognizing and in helping
the fulhllment Of the principle of self-determi-
nation. 1t is easy to dismiss it with such argyll
ments as there is no self capable to determine
ton and that even if there were it is the pre-
rogative Of the British Parliament to determine.
THE emergence of a self in this context in
defnable form is itself process in some ways
parallel to the determination Granted the
VIII to allow and to assist India in this task the
time Is opportune and the difficulties are not
inSurmountable."