Evening star., 1940-08-11
Japan Throws Lot With Axis,7
Menacing Vital y. S. Supplies
Toxic Decides to Grab Dutch East Indies, Indo
China and Hong Kong, Possibly Following :,
With British Malaga or.
BY Constantine Brown,

Japan has thrown in her lot with the
Berlin Rome Axis. All the wishful think
ing of certain high officials in Washing
ton that the Toxic government would
hesitate to become a definite part of the
Axis has proved as empty as the hopes
of the British diplomats who believed
that the u. s. s. r. would turn against
Germany in time to save the British
empire.
Both the Russians and the Japanese
have ample reason to be suspicious OF
their partners. But neither of these pow
ers bothers to look into the future. The
present is more remunerative.> Russia
has gained from her collaboration with
the Reich the refrigeration of the old
empire and stands good chance to OBJ
tain much more-Istanbul, the Persian
Gulf and possibly parts of India Wheth-
er or not She may later have to straight
en- out scores with the Reich is a de-
batable question, and it is not in the ma
ture OF the Slavs to look so far ahead
The same is true of the japanese.
There are some so-called liberal states
ment in Japan who think that in years
to come they may have to come to grips
with the Germans because of economic
competition. But for the time being the
military fanatics who control Japan see
only one thing: The defeat of Great Brit
ain. and the consequent difficulties in
which the United States would find itself.
offering an ideal situation for putting
into effect all the expansionist ideas of
the Toxic militarists, thus making Japan
a flrst-class power which will dominate
the whole ancient East.
Toxic Expects British Defeat.
The Toxic government is convinced
that Britain will be defeated. They have
had searching advices from their shrewd
military and political observers abroad.
Toxic has waited to go over to the Axis
bag and baggage until everybody in the
government gained the absolute convic-
ton that there can be no fly in the oint-
ment so far as the British are concerned.
In many ways the swing to Berlin of
Emperor Hirohito's government can be
compared with Italys entrance into the
war. Mussolini made up his mind to
risk" war against France two weeks
after confidential reports had reached
Rome that Gen. Weygand had informed
Premier Reynaud that all hope for fur
ther resistance must be abandoned. They
declared war on France after their mill
tary observers attached to the German
Army reported to II Duce that they had
personally seen entire French divisions
throw down their arms and surrender
without making even a pretense of
fighting.
The same cannot be reported about
the British. But japanese observers in
England and the German-occupied ter
ritories of France, Holland and Belgium
advised Toxic that Great Britain's game
is up. And Toxic is acting. It decided
two weeks ago to go full speed ahead
toward the south and incorporate into
the Empire Hong Kong, Indo-China and
the Dutch East Indies. Japan is deter
mined to become real empire.
U. S. Fleet No Longer Feared.
In the last IL months Toxic has feared
the United States more than Great Brit
ain. Now Toxic has learned that she
need no longer fear the United States.
Our f1eet-stronger than the japanese
is still concentrated in the Pacific. A
year ago this concentration would have
acted as strong deterrent to japanese
Navy men. Today our fleet is no longer
feared even by the wise Japanese naval
staff. Toxic knows that the japanese
fleet and naval transports can 60 to the
much-coveted Dutch East Indies without
anticipating anything worse than some
powerful notes from the State Depart
ment. japan knows better than most
people in this country that the United
States will remain an impassive spectator
when the great drama in the Orient is
played.
The impending attack against the
Dutch possessions in the Far East, re-
sponsible quarters believe, will be fol-
lowed by an attack against British Ma
laya. The stage is being set at the
present time to give the Toxic govern
ment an excuse for such action. The
arrest OF number of japanese citizens
In Great Britain and in Malaga has
offered the military clique perfect ex-
cuse for doing away with "the insuffer-
able domination of the British" in ia
pans section of the world"
The main concern of Washington Is
that some of the raw materials vital to
our national defense exist in large guam