Evening star., 1937-08-26
Japanese Aims.

human purposes are symboli1ed by the
diversion OF Japan from her intent to
cut herself another piece Of North China
as result of the killing OF 4 Japanese
naval officer and seaman and 4 Chinese
gendarme at the Hungjao Airdrome at
Shanghai seventeen days ago.
Tokios armed forces were proceeding
to her satisfaction In subjugating the
five northern provinces without substan-
tial resistance from Nanking when the
fateful occurrence at the Hungjao Air
drome plunged her into the midst of hos
tilities on which she had not counted.
There is no evidence that the killings
at Hungjao were the deliberate attempt
of General Chang Kai-shek to divert
the forces of Japan from the northern
campaign. Rather they appear As a
spontaneous outbreak, in all likelihood
due to the carelessness of the Japanese
of1icer In firing his pistol when he was
denied entry to the airdrome, as the
Chinese claimed, or Of the Chinese guards
In attacking the Japanese who were
there In line of duty, as the japanese
claim.
But when Japan moved her warships
into the Whangpoo and landed marines
and bluejackets in Shanghai, she irrev-
ocably inserted herself into a situation
from which she could not withdraw
without loss of face, especially after
Chinese troops marched toward Shanghai
to reinforce the Peace Preservation
Corps Subsequently the massing of
large forces of Chinese around the me-
tropolis and the launching Of aerial and
artillery attacks upon Japanese warshtps
in the river necessitated sending $1,000
japanese home troops. Thus the ball
rolls on and on through the slaughter
Of japanese landing forces at Woosune
and the declaration Of a blockade Of
Chinese shipping along the coast south
from the mouth of the Yangtze.
Although the declaration OF such
blockade, which is pacific in nature be-
cause it excludes specifically the ship
ping OF other nations, emphasizes the
intention of Japan to refrain from un-
dertaking the status Of a belligerent at
this time. It Is the last act before .
severance Of diplomatic relations and
perhaps declaration Of war.
The situation poses the question: What
are Japans aims? They were clear AZ
long as the fighting was restricted to
North China: suppression of anti-Japan-
ism, cooperation with Japan for the
suppression Of communism, and recogni-
ton of Japan's dominant economic in
terest in North China. But when Shang-
hal became the battlefield her ultimate
objectives became obscured by pro-
nouncements from Japanese militarists
and Premier Prince Konoye himself that
Japan was determined to crush China.
Tokio's avowed purpose of intrenching
herself in North China and making her
self the guardian of East Asiatic peace
could hardly be served by destruction Of
Chang Kai-shek's regime and nullifi-
cation of the unity he has brought to
China. If Japan truly wants . peaceful
East Asia, to permit her to penetrate
China economically, she will find her
interest lies in seeking . peaceful solu-
ton of the Shanghai incident rather than
permitting 1t to 60 50 far that arms
alone can achieve q settlement.
There appears to be = conflict be-
tween Japan's true interest and her
actions. For the enlightenment of the
rest of the world, which is watching the
struggle fearful Of its spread to other
nations, as we'll as for facilitation of q
peaceful settlement, Japan is at least
morally obliged to state her aims and
what she intends to gain from her cam
paign In China.