Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-06
Showdown With japan

Day before yesterday two Of the
highest spokesman Of the japanese
government delivered warnings to
America which, if words mean any
thing, amount to practical ulti-
matum. Deliberately and provoca-
lively, these officials told us to keep
our hands off the Far EaSt-or else!
Yakichiro Suma, formerly in the
japanese Embassy here in Washing
ton and now foreign office Spokes-
man, declared to the Japanese peo-
pie in a nationwide broadcast that
recent United States moves in the
Far East clearly indicate it is TAX
ing step after step in the wrong di-
rection which might precipitate it
into the vortex of armed conflict"
The dramatic climax was reached
when the japanese Prime Minister,
Prince Konoye, IN an interview with
the japanese press, urged the United
States to reconsider its position and
positively cooperate with Axis con-
struction of a new world order.
Should the United States deliber-
ately refuse to understand the true
intentions of Japan, Germany and
Italy, and consider the triple al
lance hostile to herself and chal-
lenge the Axis nations. the Axis
would be ready to accept such a
challenge and fight to the finish
Perhaps the most significant part
of this sensational episode is con-
tanned in the final paragraph of the
Associa ted Press dispatch which car
ried the story. This paragraph reads:
"Konoye was on his way back to
Toxic after formal journey to the
grand ShrineS at 1Se to report his
recent assumption of the premier
ship to Anaterasu, the sun goddess"
There, in a nutshell, we have the
spirit of Japan Militant. In japanese
eyes, the sun goddess is no mere
symbol; she is very much alive. Every
japanese devoutly believes that
AmateraSu is the anceStresS of the
Imperial dynasty which, for $500
years, has uninterruptedly ruled
Japan. Their divine Emperor, with
the blood Of the gods in his veins, is
the spiritual head of the japanese
people, that "Yamato Race" which
itself partakes of the nature of the
Divine Ancestor in that it enjoys the
lasting favor of the gods and is thus
raised above the level of other NOR
tails. From earliest childhood, every
japanese is taught that the YamatO
Race is eventually destined to world
-eminence and world dominion.
This is no eXaggeration; it is sober
fact. And the bold leaders who now
rule Japan apparently believe thai
Great Nippon's hour of destiny has
struck.
With such men, leading people
thus conditioned in a religious ma
tionalism far tranScending anything
exhibited by either Nazi Germany or
Fascist Italy, the very word "ap-
peasement" is dangerous folly Faced
by these provocative challenges, our
Government should not yield an
inch. On the contrary, certain def
mite steps should be taken to check
mate their grandiose ambitions while
there is yet time. Economic pressure
should be wisely yet unflinchingly
applied. This might take the form
of new embargoeS on exports to
Japan and possibly on imports vital
to japanese economy. Aid should be
extended to Free China. Understand
ings should be perfected with Brit
ain, the Dominions, and the Neither
lands Indies for concerted defensive
action in the Far East. Particularly,
these understandings should look to
possible use by our fleet of British
and other naval bases in the Far
East. To stand aside while Japan
attempts to crush China, grab the
Dutch Indies and capture Singapore
would be the height of folly. For
Japan Militant is Unsuitable.