Evening star., 1941-11-03
Jupun's Axis Tie

Jopon S AXIS lie
The German governments formal
declaration that the United States
has attacked" the Reich through re-
cent activities Of our destroyers
raises the issue of Japan's obliga-
tions toward its Axis partner. The
text of the Berlin Rome Toxic Axis
specifies that the signatories are
pledged to 60 to one another's aid in
event Of attack on any member by a
power not then engaged in the pres
ent war. Theoretically, Berlin's
statement is an assertion that the
attack specified in the Axis agree
ment has taken place.
However, there is as yet no indi-
cation that Germany actually has
called on Japan for aid under the
Axis treaty, though it may be that
the Reich government is building up
the diplomatic background for such
a request in the near future. Indeed,
it can be reasonably certain that Ber-
lin would not openly make the de-
mand unless assured in advance that
1t would be honored. A public refusal
by Toxic would have serious psyche
logical consequences for both parties
and would tend to discredit the whole
Axis setup.
1t should be remembered that the
Axis treaty is technically an agree
ment among three allegedly equal
powers, each of whom has the right
to interpret the letter Of its obliga-
tions. This right was specifically
asserted in December by so stanch
an Axis advocate as the then Japa-
nese Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Yosuke Matsuoka. At that time Mr..
Matsuoka publicly stated that 1t was
discretionary with the Axis partners
to decide whether another was the
object Of aggression. This consti-
tutes virtually an escape clause" at
least, in a situation like the present
one between Germany and the
United States, which still maintain
formal diplomatic relations despite
the shots that are being fired and
the blood which is flowing in unde-
clared hostilities.
Far more important than the legal
aspect is the practical question
whether the new TOTO government.
pledged to an uncompromising for
eign policy in the Far East, may not
think the time is ripe to take action
which would almost automatically
involve hostilities with the United
States. For several days official
spokesmen and the press have been
warning that Japan would not en-
dure much longer the economic pres
sure engineered by America and its
associates. Britain and the Neither
lands Indies; that unless this were
modified, Japan would be forced to
remedy the situation by extreme
measures. AS the Domei official
news agency put it: Japan must
break through the encirclement
formed by inimical nations"
If this be the real intention of
the TOTO government request from
Berlin for aid under the Axis agree
ment might be welcome. It would
give Toxic the high-sounding argu-
ment that Japan was living up to her
pledged word, and would thus re-
move the stigma of aggression for
war-like action, at least in the eyes
of the japanese people. p
Therefore, if Premier TOTO is ready
to strike, this may be his cue But
there is as yet no proof that he is
quite ready. Furthermore, the back
ground of japanese policy and per-
sonalities makes it pretty clear that
Japan will strike only for its own
interests, or what its present rulers
deem those interests to be. Toxic
will not allow itself to be pushed
or wheedled into war by Berlin. The
Axis agreement has. from the first,
rested on hardboiled self-interest.
That is what will govern Japan's
next move.