The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-01

out Oh Hliu' AiiT
stewart stead, he grad
uated as a violent, very outspoken
anti. Some say his complex was
due TO alleged snubbings admin
istered to him by his fellow stu
dents, as an Oriental.
Returning TO Japan. Matsuoka
worked himself up into a deal OF
big business prominence, for he
was a smart cuss, despite his anti
Americanism. Finally he became
his countrys foreign minister. It
was a Job which especially enabled
him TO make himself disagreeable
to Washington, and he worked
overtime at that detail Of 1t. He
was pretty successful, too, know
ing, as he did, our language and
psychology.
Well, it was Minister Matsuoka
who framed up the deal that took
Japan more or less into the Rome
Berlin Axis. OF course he was
aware that we don't like the Axis.
and maybe 1t was partly to spite
us that he pulled the trick.
As the war warmed up, he de-
cided on a trip to Rome and Ber-
lin. to ask Duce Mussolini and
Fuehrer Hitler how the Japs could
be most helpful to them. Adolf
told him that, among other things,
he'd appreciate a pact between
Toxic and Moscow, the Soviets and
the Nazis then being nominally
friendly.
A Ticklish Task
Inasmuch as the Japs and Rus
SLAMS additionally hate one an
other, Matsuoka was doubtful II he
could arrange II. Adolf, though,
assured him that he could, saying
that he adolf would bulldoze
Comrade Stain into acquiescence,
and that all he needed was Matsu-
okais cooperation
SO, not because he had much APP
petite for the bargain, but in order
to be obliging TO Adolf, Matsuoka
and he and Joe Stain sealed the
decker.
And the ink was scarcely dry on
the parchment before the Nazis
had Jumped the Soviets, and Japan
was placed in such a ridiculous
position, with its conflicting treat
les. ASdsward and Russianward,
that Premier Konoye at Toxic, had
to reorganize his cabinet, chuck
ing Matsuoka into the discard, as
the perpetrstor of all the blunder-
ing.
Adolf probably didn't deliberate
" plan TO make a monkey out OF
Matsuoka. Apparently he merely
changed his program abruptly, and
didn't give a thought to the fix he
was leaving Matsuoka in.
II ever there was a case Of
double-crossing that was it, from
Matsuoka's standpoint. Toxic ru-
mors are to the effect that he's
turned almost pro-American, on
the ground that, much as he may
have disliked US, at least were
anu-Hitler. His flop may do US
no particular good, now that he's
out Of the Jap cabinet Yet it's
possible that he still has consider
able personal influence.
The Chinese Puzzle
The cards are gummed in China
also.
Generalissirno Chang Kai-shek,
In his war against Japan, has been
getting a lot Of help from Russia,
but Chang isn't a Communist.
Contrariwise, the Chinese Commu-
nists, as well as the Japs, have
been fighting his forces quite for
midably. Yet the Chinese Commu-
nists are not pro-Jap. They simply
want to Communize China. As for
Moscow. IL favors Chinese Commu-
nism AS Communism, but it like
wise favors Chang versus Japan.
Washington, all along, has IA
vored Chang versus the Japs. like
wise, but It's had its fingers crossed
on the Communists.
Now, though, Communisdc Rus
sia's in arms against the Axis, and
we, like the rest Of the democra-
eies, prefer Russia mot plus Com
munism, except temporarily to the
Axis.
So the advice Chiang's said TO
be getting from the democratic
part Of the Occident is TO forget
Communism for the present. con-