Evening star., 1941-11-06
Jupun's Special Envoy


| Jopon's Special Envoy
A special envoy is flying from
Toxic to catch trans-Pacif1c Clipper
plane at Hong Kong for America.
He is Saburo Kurusu, veteran diplo-
mat, best known for his signing of
the Berlin -Rome-Tokio Axis pact in
September, 1910, when he was Am
bassador to Germany. However, this
does not stamp him as pro-AXis,
because his diplomatic career also
includes posts in English and French
speaking countries. It is therefore
reasonable to assume that he is a
seasoned diplomat, capable of carry
ing out his governments instructions
with professional objectivity.
Toxic announces officially that Mr..
Kurusu is being flown'to Washington
in an effort to reach an accord with
the United States, "in view of the
very serious situation prevailing"
Serious" is none too strong a word
to describe the present tension in
JapaneSe-American relations. And
unless there has been some last
minute change of attitude by the
militaristic TOTO cabinet, it is hard
to see what Mr. KuruSu can say or
offer to change the situation. AL
ready two similar attempts by Toxic
have been made. Last August, the
then Premier Prince Konoye sent his
still unpublished personal letter to
President Roosevelt, and this was
amplified by the sending of a special
envoy, Kaname Wakasugi, shortly
before the Konoye cabinet fell. These
unusual gestures came on top of
regular diplomatic conversations car
ried on for months in both Washing
ton and Toxic. Yet, despite all this
diplomatic activity, Japanese-Ameri-
can relations have steadfastly de-
Perforated.
The reason for this chronic crisis
between Japan and America is as
obvious as it is grave The two ma
tions are basically opposed in policy
and outlook. Japan is determined to
dominate China as a step toward
the domination of the whole Far
East. America rejects this entire
idea of aggressive expansion and
supports China as the best way of
checking Japan's ruthless imperial
ism. Since American interests in the
Far East run parallel to those of
Britain and the Netherlands Indies,
the three Western powers have
formed working agreement, with
avowed support of China, and now of
Soviet Russia. Japan calls this
hostile encirclement," and threat
ems to break the circle by force.
AS an alternative to these threats,
Japan has made series of gestures
for a realistic compromise" Mr..
Kurusu'S mission is the latest of this
series. But how can there be any
genuine compromise of two such ir-
reconcilable attitudes? Certainly,
Japan is not in a yielding mood,
judging by the semi-ofhcial state
ments of the Toxic foreign office
issued at the very moment of Mr..
Kurusu's departure Yesterday the
Japan Times Advertiser, known to
be the English language mouth
piece of the foreign office, published
a list of the things America must"
door face the alternatives. This
seven-point must" list included
Americas abandonment of China,
acquiescence in the establishment of
Japan's self-proclaimed "co-prosper-
ity sphere" over virtually the whole
Far East, the unfreezing of assets,
and the restoration of normal COM
mercial intercourse.
All that, be it understood, is what
America must do of it's own volition,
with no corresponding promises or
commitments on Japan's part. And
the rest of the Toxic press is prac-
tically unit in warning America
that such things must be done
quickly if war is to be averted.
Against this ominous background,
Mr.. Kurusu'S flying trip to Washing
ton would seem to be rather futile
gesture possibly intended for face
or time saving purposes.