Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

Writer Tells How Toxic
Uses All Languages
In Radio Campaign
By Houard w. Blakeslee,
Wide World Science Editor.
NEW YORK, Feb. III you ask
where Is the United States Navy?"-
you are repeating Japanese propaganda,
q question they picked up in America
and want you to keep on asking.
II you ask whether Secretary Knox,
Secretary Stimson or President Roose-
welt may have made some slips-again
1t is Japanese propaganda.
It makes no difference, either that
your question is sincere and original or,
II q repeated phrase, that its source Is
proper-it Is still part Of Japanese propa-
ganda.
For 1t is one of many the Toxic short
wave radio Is suggesting to Americans
every day.
Often the questions are selected from
ideas spontaneous among Americans.
The Japanese choices just at present
concentrate on those which might, Toxic
hopes, spread doubt, distrust and dissen-
sion.
This does not mean that honest opin-
ion should be barred, but that 1t Is well
for Americans to realize the nature of
enemy propaganda. There are about
100000 American radio sets equipped
for short wave listening. How many tune
in Is not known, but the number is
probably small.
The number, however, is not 30 i'm
portant. Agents and sympathizers can
listen, take the cues, spread them as
catch phrases. Careless patriots make
assists.
To scorn these propaganda ideas is to
risk mental Pearl Harbor. for some
times one Of them sweeps the articulate
world.
The threatened invasion Of Australia
may be q sample. Tokio's short wave
began saying that Australia was isolated,
that she should put all her fighting
forces in position for q japanese inva-
sion. Along with the military situation
In the South Pacific this was dynamic.
The talks in the House Of Commons.
the Australian offlcial statements, the
discussion Of American assistance, all
may have a different origin. The fact
remains that they parallel the Japanese
propaganda Of the moment.
1t might be considered unusual for
Toxic to broadcast important military
information Of this sort.
That particular angle OF suspicion
about reports Of what is usually secret
is one Japan is playing to counteract
President Roosevelt's announcement of
our forthcoming huge air armada. II
true, says Toxic he has given vital in
formation to Germany and Japan.
Therefore, again says Toxic, consider
the figures blur.
The interviews, real or not, with
American prisoners are good PROPAGANDA
from the japanese viewpoint. So are the
Japanese claims Of captured officers
who are purported to mention made
quate American preparations In the
Pacific.
Prisoner officials. missionaries and
bishops are quoted as wishing to CO.
operate with japanese forces.
The four freedoms are ridiculed. One
phrase with a nostalgia allusion is that
II Americans are fighting for freedom,
why don't we battle the Soviets? Another
If our press is free, why isn't 1t per.
mitted to report the sinking Of the air
craft carrier Lexington? United States
on1cials have said that the aircraft car
rier sinking reports are japanese at
tempts to get information.
Some Of our recent isolationists be-
come, in the Toxic propaganda, a rap
idly vanishing group of American pa
triots whose words fell on deaf ears.
The billions we now are appropriating
are declared to be merely to fill the void
left by our wasting previous astronomical
sums.
Toxic speaks all languages. It tells the
Chinese they shall share the riches for
merly enjoyed by the Europeans But the
word to the Filipinos is that they shall
be allowed to take over the business for
merly owned by Chinese; to the Chinese
merchants in the Dutch Indies, that If
they cooperate with the Dutch the
Japanese will destroy all their property
and the sacred burial places Of their
ancestors
The Dutch are asked not to destroy
their oil but to play safe by recognizing
the japanese control already declared to
be fact in the Western Pacific. Tho
other Indies inhabitants are admonished
not to destroy the oil which lights their
homes and brings them food.
Latin America Is q continual target.
These Americans are asked to ponder
whether the North Americans still think
the Navy can protect the United States.
The United States was pictured as try
ing desperately to get help from the Rio
conference. North Americans were said
to be hysterical; American women were
even about to wear cotton stockings and
go shoeless. Americas well known short
ages were enumerated-and chewing
gum was added!
South Americans are told Japan has
absolutely no territorial ambitions. But
South America is said to be in no posi-
ton to protect itself from Axis powers
and is warned not to break diplomatic
relations.
The propaganda runs on endlessly In
q bx,o H.,