Evening star., 1939-08-05
SinqIe World Problem


Eastern and European problems has
long been evident in the tactics of
Germany, Italy and Japan, but sell
dom before has the progressive mer-
ger of these two trouble spots into
single world disorder been so clearly
shown as in developments yesterday
In London, Rome and Toxic.
Japan's preparations for closer
cooperation with the Rome-Berlln
axis, perhaps as full-hedged mill
tary ally, and Prime Minister Cham
berlain's reservation to his warning
of possible British fleet action in the
Far East are symptomatic of the
growing independence of Japan and
the axis powers in the attainment
of their particular but equally
aggressive purposes.
Although the campaigns of the
axis in Europe and Africa and of
Japan in the Far East spring from
dissimilar historical seeds, they
flourish in the, common soil of in
effective peace machinery and a
broken world order. They are tied
together so closely that the failure
of one would inevitably react heavily
against the other.
Germany and Italy have long de-
sired to have Japan in military
alliance. Japan, however, has been
IixyiI
tarists clamoring for closer ties to
the axis, moderates ill-disposed to
commitments in European politics.
Conviction that the United States
and Britain are engaged in gigantic
conspiracy to thwart Japan's pur-
poses in Asia is closing this breach,
creating more and more support for
the axis alliance.
If Japan now, as appears likely,
is to assume the obligations and
reap the benefits of an axis alliance
1t means that Far Eastern and Eu-
ropean problems will become more
closely integrated than ever, capable
of settlement only as whole.
Henceforth there would be no ques-
ton of satisfying the demands of
Germany and Italy in Europe in
order better to meet more dan
gerous threat from Japan in the Far
East. The reverse would also be
true. Appeasement would have to
be undertaken on a scale to satisfy
all the axis allies or the allies ulti-
mately would have to be defeated as
a group in war.
That is the implication from
Japan's closer approach to the axis
which detracts somewhat from Mr..
Chamberlain's statement that Gin
certain circumstance" Britain would
send fleet to the Far East to meet
the challenge to her interests there.
Mr.. Chamberlain's expression was
based upon certain presuppositions,
some of which he stated clearly,
some of which may be inferred. The
sending of fleet to the Far East
depends, as he himself pointed out,
on Britains freedom from threat at
home. AS long as Britain is con-
fronted with "graver and nearer"
problems she will not be able to
dispose of large part of her fleet
in Chinese waters.
Removal of the threat at home de-
pends in the last analysis upon final
and def1nitive settlement with Ger
many and Italy, which amounts to
new appeasement. But if Japan be-
comes an axis ally appeasement will
be out of the question, except on a
scale probably fatal to the British
and French empires.
Britain would be impelled to keep
her fleet at home and Japan would
be free from serious naval challenge
In the Pacific, unless the United
States was drawn into the contro-
versy.
Although Mr. Chamberlains strong
expressions bespeak a stiffening of
British policy, they are robbed of
much of their effectiveness by
Japan's apparent intention to affil-
late closer with the European axis,