Evening star., 1941-12-05

Frank r. Kent avoided
But that is not the fact. The fact
is that Japan is full-f1edged part
ner Of Hitlers. She has joined the
AXIS in the movement to upset the
order and ownership of the world,
and she is being steadily pressed
by Hitler, for the furtherance of his
own purposes, toward belligerent &C
ton with US. One of these purposes
is to prevent pressure from us forc-
ing the Japanese out of the Axis;
another is the stoppage of American
and British reinforcements to Russia
by starting a war in the Pacific;
third is, by checking our flow OF
supplies to England and diverting
our attention from the Battle of the
Atlantic. to gain back some Of the
time lost by the determined resN.
tance of the Russians.
At least this is the view Of the
best-nformed men In our State De-
partment It is their contention
that the Pacific crisis directly affects
the whole battle-on land, IN the
air and on the sea, under the sea,
in Russia, on the Atlantic, in Africa
and everywhere else. 1t cannot be
considered except as part OF the
whole world struggle. And there
is no doubt that that is the way
the President and Mr.. Hull have
been considering it. 1t seems quite
clear that Japan can be permitted
no further aggression in the East
without strengthening Hitler by Civ
ing him time and preventing the
concentration Of the forces pledged
to his destruction, one Of which We
have now become.
Must Be Checked.
These being the facts, it would be
the height Of national stupidity to
allow Japan to go her aggressive
Vav unchecked. To do that would
be to weaken our own effort to
crush Hitler. And it would increase
the threat to our safety. We not
only have to be willing to fight in
the Pacific but ready to fight.
Beyond a doubt, Japan knows now
/ that we are both. AS to the effect
upon the final outcome. Of active
| warfare in the Pacific, between
japan on one side and the combined
forces of Britain and America on
the other. there are two opinions.
As pointed out. one is that it would
advantage Hitler by giving him time.
dividing the forces against him and
keeping his ally in the Axis.
The other opinion is that 1t not
only would make the ultimate defeat
of Hitler more certain, but would
greatly shorten the war. In fact, 1t
is claimed that the forcing of Japan
out of the Axis is the surest road to
victory and that great opportunity
will be lost if we do not take it. The
argument to sustain this point OF
view is clear and convincing. Par
TALLY it was publicly expressed the
other day by Hugh Grant. recently
resigned American Minister to Ihai-
land. But it is privately affirmed by
various diplomats and War Depart
ment officials in Washington.
Briefly it is this: With superior
naval and air forces we would be
able to defeat Japan very decisively
within three months. Her physical
and economic vulnerability makes
it impossible for her to last longer
against ali-out American and British
force. Once Japan is definitely elm
mated Hitlers end is hastened and
assured Such elimination would
strengthen every one OF the active
forces against him. 1t would add to
the military strength of Russia by
making it unnecessary for her to
maintain an Eastern army to guard
against sudden Japanese hostility.
Shattering to Hitler.
Furthermore it would enable the
British and Americans to concen-
trate on sweeping Hitler from the
sea in the Atlantic anG from the air
in Europe. 1t would tougher the
determination of Turkey. 1t would
incline every neutral to the anti
Hitler side. 1t would stiffen re-
sistance in the conquered countries.
Above all, the Psychological effect
would be very great. 1t would be
shattering to the Nazis and stimu-
lating to the opposition. 1t would
certainly become clear to the Ger
man army and to the German
people that Germany had not a
friend left in the world, that the
whole globe was against her. that
there was no way to win. that defeat
was inevitable.
1t is impossible to overestimate
the effect OF such feeling upon the
German people. That they would
crack, and crack quickly and badly.
is the confident belief of a good
many here qualified to express
Judgment. These advocate action.
They think that we should give
Japan brief period to get out OF the
Axis and, If she refuses. then go in
and eliminate her. They are not
"warmongers." They urge this
course not because they want war
but because it seems the best way
of quickly ending the war in the
only way it can be ended-and that
is by the crushing of Hitler. And
they do not want to miss the oppor-
tunity Of. doing it with the least
possible delay.
(Copyrisht. 1941)