Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-26
japan the Real Menace


what he meant
AS reported by the United Press he said that talk
of defeating Germany FIRST and THEN dealing with
Japan is ABSURD
His mission in London, we'll as in Washington, he
further explained is make that people this
do forget that the against Japan
is not sideshow
DEFINING his phrase priority thinking" the kind
- of thinking which says I'VE must conquer Hitler
first" Mr. Evatt continued
Those who employ il seem incapable of understand
ing that this is A WORLD WAR and that OUR Enc
MES do not say Let conquer Britain first, Russia
first, Australia first Burma first Unless fight
ALL our enemies ALL IN ALL in time will DEFEAT
NONE OF THEM"
Only few days ago it announced that the last
of the insufficient British Imperial Army in Burma had
been driven back into India and this accompanied
by reports from Australia and from the Axis powers that
Japan was expected to return shortly to the attack
on Australia with much more formidable armadas than
those which General Macarthur had destroyed turned
back.
THE menace of Japan is still obvious
The necessity of defeating Japan is still pressing.
The victory Japan in the Coral Sea is merely
AN EVIDENCE of what CAN BE DoNE-and MUST
BE DONE
Foreign Minister Evatt with his worldwide perspec-
tive and with his tragcaly near knowledge of events and
conditions in the Pacific has been able to see the war
AS WHOLE and to see it clearly.
Months ago, he foresaw-as many other leaders did
Europe that perhaps cannot be won at all unless it is
also in the Pacific.
Fortunately, however, Mr.. Evatt is not the only
observer who understands the crucial character of the
Pacific in the world struggle for freedom and
democracy
n ENERAL MACARTHUR at his headquarters in the
~ southwest Pacific certainly understands the problem.
Prime Minister Curtin of Australia plainly under
stands the problem
Reiterating few days ago his former appeal to this
country Mr.. Curtin said that the appeal HAD TO BE
MADE because Great Britain was INCAPABLE OF
SENDING HELP TO AUSTRALIA" after the fall of
Singapore
Likewise the Melbourne Herald published simultane-
ously an article by Sir Keith Murdoch, its managing
director protesting against the disastrous consequences
of the Optimistic view" whichthe article said-Presi
dent Roosevelt Premier Churchill and Lord Beaverbrook
former British supply minister holding toward the
"We must get It into the minds Of the Washington
authorities Sir Keith Murdoch wrote "that AIRPLANES
and SHIPS In much greater quantities needed and
we must INDUCE CHURCHILL to press in Washington
for larger share for the British Empire of American
!, On top of this, spokesman for the Chinese high
command issued desperate plea to the United Nations
for arplanes, both bombers and combat planes.
give hundred Japanese planes are operating in
the Burma area, he said land the enemy's land troops
Burma have been further ENTHUSIASTICALLY for an
about invasion of China"
is 1T significant that the statements by Prime Min
lister Curtin, by the Melbourne Herald and by the
Chungking government ALL REACHED AMERICA ON
THE SAME DAY?
They fully confirm the point of view of Fletcher
Pratt military expert whose articles have appeared for
several years in numerous publications.
Writing in the New York Post recently as May 7,
Mr.. Pratt said: -
Zone wonders whether the high commands in
Washington and London have given FULL CONSIDER
ALTON to the position and possibilities in the Pacific.
Its all very well to talk about starting up second
front in Europe and knocking off Hitler frst but THE
FACT is that JAPAN is RAPIDLY MANEUVERING
HERSELF INTO THE POSITION OF BEING THE
MORE FORMIDABLE ENEMY OF THE TWO and IN
THE MONTHS AHEAD she Is bound to be FAR
STRONGER i'm the New Guinea-Tim region than she
Is today"
The vital question therefore is: What are the high
commands in Washington and London going to do about
the perilous Pacific situation I'm THE MONTHS
AHEAD"