Evening star., 1941-12-10
Argues That War Must Lead to


Solution Of Orient's Economic Problems.
To the Editor of The Star:
Armed conflict already has begun In
the Pacific and the question Of the hour
Is how best we can use our forces to
bring about victory for ourselves and
for those nations with which we are
affiliated and how best to bring about
defeat for the Japanese forces.
Ever since 1881 our policy toward
Japan has been one Of appeasement. We
passively have accepted. one after an
other. the steps which Japan has taken
In enlarging her economic and political
sphere in the Far East. We have ex-
pressed our moral indignation but also
have expressed our willingness to supply
Japan with the oil, the iron, the steel,
the aluminium and most Of the other
products necessary to carry out those
advances Japan has taken these ma
terials and stored them 50 that she to-
day has reserves which can be used
against us.
But though her reserves are quite large
it is a question as to whether they will
be sufficient to enable Japan to carry out
her new aggressions in the face of op-
position from the Western powers
If Japan, after conquering Thailand,
could close the Burma Road and thus
conquer China and still maintain her
economic equilibrium she might be in q
Philippines and the Dutch East Indies
There is no doubt that Japan had hoped
to accomplish this and yet not be forced
to face the armed opposition Of the
United States and the British Empire
But it now is apparent that both the
United States and Britain are prepared
to make a stand. The Japanese came
to the conclusion that they would have
to fight and that the best thing to do
would be to try to put the United States
on the defensive.
Now that hostilities have started we
must consider what will be the best
thing to do. The fact that Japan started
the war while the United States was
trying to reach q peaceful settlement
certainly puts our appeasement policy
Of the past 10 years in very bad light.
It shows that we should have awakened
to our danger long ago.
But just as we should have taken ad-
vantage of our opportunities in the past
and now should take every opportunity
to gain a rapid victory over Japan, we
should be just as ready to make the kind
of peace with Japan which would be
most beneficial both to ourselves, to
Japan, to the rest of the Far East and
to the world in general. We must look
at both the immediate future and the
years to come. There is almost no
question but that military defeat will be
accompanied by political revolution in
Japan. 1t is quite possible that q new
government will be willing and glad to
take its place with the democracies.
Just as we should be quick to welcome
the new Japanese government into the
family Of democratic nations, 50 too
should we be willing to help Japan to
solve its internal economic problems and
to build up trade relations with the
Western powers and with the countries
on the continent of Asia which would
be beneficial to all concerned. Japan
and the rest Of the Far East may well
prove to be the testing ground Of the
new order" which must follow the pres
ent hostilities. We can no longer look
at peace as a period between glorious
wars. We must recognize that wars. es-
pecially wan Of conquest. arise out of