Evening star., 1940-08-01
Keeping the WhirIwind

Keeping the WhirIwind =.
The ancient injunction that "as
thou sowest, so shalt thou reap" ap-
plies to nations and governments as
we'll as to individuals. The European
war, particularly in its origin, is re-
plete with examples of this admoni-
ton. Great Britain seems by way of
reaping once more in the Far East
the fruits of appeasement.
AS the consequence of an alleged
roundup Of foreigners suspected of
espionage, the Toxic authorities
arrested dozen or more British
subjects, including businessmen of
long residence and excellent stand
ing in Japan. They had previously
taken into custody respected Brit
lsh Journalist, who, his captors al
lege, committed suicide after leaving
written evidence suggesting guilt.
Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax
told the Japanese Ambassador in
London that his majestys govern
ment takes serious view" of the
arrests and the espionage allega-
tions and that the explanation of
the British correspondents death
could not be accepted at face value.
Britain's Ambassador in Toxic was
directed to lodge vigorous protest
and to demand the prisoners release.
The japanese Foreign Office spokes-
man, Yakichiro Suma, retorts that
Japan will reject any British repre-
sentations, because the espionage
roundup lis entirely justified" The
authorities, Mr.. Suma claims, possess
sufficient" evidence against the
arrested men, whose total number
he declines to reveal, and declares it
would be altogether unreasonable
for Britain to enter any sort of
protest"
It remonStrance against this latest
act Of contempt for British rights
and interests proves to be futile,
proof will be supplied that Britain is
again to pay the penalty Of weak
kneed action in the face of japanese
propagation. It will be fresh evidence
that, in the case of the island
empire, appeasement is a mistaken
policy. On notable occasions in
recent years, both before and during
the war, the Toxic war party-the
army elements still at the civilian
helm-has deliberately fouted Brit
ain in China. Almost without excep-
ton, each affair ended in some
adjustment which suggested a Brit
ish backdown. One recalls in par
ticular the outrages perpetrated
against the British concession at
Tientsin. Not only did japanese
military authorities essay the right
to isolate Britons resident and trad
ing there within recognized treaty
regulations, but imposed personal
humiliations and, in some instances,
physical injury upon British sub
jects, both men and women. London
made vigorous objections, but even
tually compromise was arranged
which accorded the Japanese virtu-
ally all of their demands.
The Burma road controversy, of
recent and painful memory, is the
latest instance of British reluctance
to offer Japan that stern resistance
which unreasonable demands call
for. It is not the first occasion on
which the lion in latter-day times
has failed to emerge from an "inci-
dent" at Toxic with his claws
intact.
It would, of course, be unfair not
to realize that Britain's war preoccu-
patton, especially at this grim hour,
is perhaps necessarily responsible
for her disinclination adequately to
oppose japanese higf-handedness.
The espionage arrests are not mini
mized in British eyes by reports that
they may be Nazi-inspired and that
Gestapo agent has for some time
been officially lodged in an impor-
tant Toxic government department.
The latest Anglo-Japanese Incl
dent carries certain warning to
this country. Our relations with
Japan are periodically marked by
somewhat analogous affairs-the
incursion of Japanese plain-clothes
men into a section of the Shanghai
Settlement, over which United
States Marines have Jurisdiction, is
recent case in point. Our own
experience has amply proved that a
firm hand in dealing with our Jap
anese friends is the only course to
pursue. Along the path of appease-
ment lies disillusionment and pos
sible peril.
The haaf IL turned an woshin0-