Evening star., 1936-03-22
t PE % RSS TOKYO LEFT INSET PRINCE

to restore Manchuria to the Chinese.
to apologize to the Soviet because
there have been clashes with Russian
troops on the Mongolian border.
I think. on the other hand, that
Japan will steadily tighten its hold
on Manchukuo, that it will press for
ward in China-not necessarily in a
military SenSe-with the purpose, so
far as possible. of controlling that un-
fortunate country. So far as China
is concerned. furthermore, we must
always remember that. since the Japa-
nese consider communism the arch
enemy, the advance of communist
armies in China in the direction Of
the Manchurian border might bring
Japanese troops Immediately into play
as a defensive measure.
Japan also will steadily prepare for
possible war with the Soviet; and along
the Russian or Mongolian border is
undoubtedly where there is the most
danger that war may break out.
Neither Japan nor Russia is looking
for war, but neither is afraid of war:
both are preparing for it. Yet there is
no reason for war, since there are no
problems at issue which could not be
solved through calm craftsmanship. Ii
war occurs it will be the immediate
result of some foolish border incident.
but will have its roots in the profound
rift between the national PHILOSOPHERS
of the two nations.
Will Pursue Policy.
japanese liberals do not believe in
retreat any more than the conserva-
tiveS do. None of them is interested
in the conScienceS of members OF
American pacifist organizations. Japan
apparently has determined on its pol
icy in Asia and will not change that
policy. This, I think. was shown in
the Japanese reaction to the Presi-
dents address to Congress about the
good and the wicked nations. The
Italians were intensely irritated and
said so: the Germans admitted that
Mr.. Roosevelt undoubtedly referred to
them, but wondered what he was going
to do about it; the japanese merely
shrugged their shoulders and inti-
mated that they had no interest in
foreign political speeches.
If the fiasco of the recent outbreak
in Toxic results in more liberal gov
ernment it will not materially change
the policy of the empire, but it will
enable Toxic to carry out that policy
less hastily, in a manner less irritating
to the rest of the world. Such gov
ernment would try to be sure of it'
case before acting, instead Of acting
first and trying to build case te
square with the action later. Some OF
the actions of Japan during the last
five or six years have not been justi-
fable according to any Western stand
ards of conduct; some, on the othel
hand, would have been accepted in the
Western world if they had not beer
so badly presented.
The japanese, like the Italians, are
poor propagandists. A liberal govern
ment-always using the word in the
Japanese Sense-would make out q
better case for itself, partly because II
would be more far-sighted, more eau
tious; partly because it would better
represent "Bushido," the .lcient phil
losophy of Japan; partly because it:
members would be thinking ard acting
along lines which We can understand
The murders in Toxic were not part
of a military plot to seize control oi
the government for the purpose oi
setting up Fascist dictatorship. They
were not inspired by Berlin. They
were not the introduction Of a new
attack in China. They were the tragic
outcome of unhealthy propaganda, oi
egotism and intolerance. Perhaps they
will wake Japan to high r and better
destiny.