The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-04-20
. Clapper
Nippon Has Propaesnds
Edoe in Asien Thesier
Natives not Certain Why
United Nations Fighting
Purposes and Aims not
Sold 10 Vast Population
Nv RAYMOND CLAPPER

CAIRO - After spending a
month east OF Suez I return 10
Cairo wanting to say some
things which. frankly, I don't
know how to say.
No one can go through such an
experience and return feeling
quite the same as when he left.
Perhaps il viii be some little
time before the mass of infor-
nation and judgments that I
gathered from scores of key peo-
pie in India and China will shake
down into firm conclusions.
Above all. however. I re-
turn with the feeling that
the United Nations have
failed thus far to make clear
their purposes and aims in
Asia. l think the reason is
that our cause is not clear
Ia ourselves.
It is not enough to beat Japan
In Asia. The point is. to de-
feat Japan for what purposei
Our failure to answer that ques-
ton clearly is having a strong
ly adverse effect on the war in
Asia. We are short of supplies
in Asia. but even shorter of pur-
poses that will rally the native
populations. The result Ia that
in Malaga and Burma. and now
in India. the people are more in
different to the Allied cause
than they should be. considering
what they have at stake. We
have failed to convince them Of
what really is at stake for them.
Before we can do justice 10
ourselves in Asia the United Ma
tons must, | think. make a clear
and convincing statement OF why
we are fighting there and what
the shape of things will be after
the victory.
Until that has been done,
the vast masses of the peo-
Pile went be throwing in
their full weight. japanese
propaganda has been play
ing skillfully on the native
hatred of western imperial
ism. II Is fantastic that
the laps should he regarded
a. liberators, Yet We are
letting them get away with
II.
Our propaganda job is yet to
be done. But it can't be done
until our own minds are clear
as to what the war in Asia ~
all about, what the status Of
the native populations is to be
after the war, whether to return
10 previous conditions or TO move
into a new stage with more self
government.
A clear and effective state
ment of the United Nations pur-
poses would be convincing propa-
ganda for the winning of conf
dence in Asia, which seems 10
me to be one of the most inn
portant weapons of the war in
the east. Until we do that, We
are as good as giving Japan ex-
ira divisions. Ii was so in Ma
lava and Burma, and it looks as
If il might soon be so in India
In Europe, the case Of the Al
lies is clear. There the Axis
has conquered free peoples. The
situation is totally different IN
Asia, where only the Chinese
have been free-and there you
see the difference. The Chinese
are fighting for themselves.
Elsewhere the natives see moth
ing to fight for except con-
tinuation Of the irksome condi-
tons of the past. So the more
ignorant and unthinhng of the
people see IL only as a question
OF which set of outsiders is 10
be over them.
As to the ultimate might
of the United Nations. as
far as physical strength
goes, there can be no ques-
ton. Japan can never match
the Allies In a long war.
But victory cannot he won
hy arms alone. so long Is
We hand the japanese their
propaganda weapon.
Sir Stafford Grips made an
effort TO overcome this situa-
ton in India. The fact that
he failed was largely due to the
bitterness and suspicion gener-
sted from the past. The fair
ure OF Grips mission cannot
be the end. II is, rather .
challenge 10 the United Nations
10 redouble their efforts for
new deal in Asia that will RAINY
millions to help actively on our