The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-21
AMERICAS ROLE IN ASIA by

AMERICAS ROLE IN ASIA by
Harry Paxton Howard Howell,
Soskin Publishers; New York City:
So is an engrossing study Of Asia
and the part that the Western pow
ers have played in its history. Mr..
Howard writes from Is years ex-
pericnce in Asia and in his book
lays bare the imperialistic pattern
which has dominated American re-
lations with Japan and China UP
until the present.
Mr.. Howard traces the growth OF
Western civilization to its Asiatic
roots in the first chapters Of his
book. AS he points out Asiatic
Empire may become a great threat
to Western control as it was CEN
turtles ago. With the rise OF Japan
to power and inperialistic aims the
people Of the Western world are
beginning to realize the potential
strength OF such an empire. If the
japanese can achieve their immedi-
ate aims-full leadership in China
with an area and population com.
parable to that Of all continental
Europe). and the lesser countries Of
southeastern Asia and the south
west Pacific-they will have an
empire of more than zoe, 900, 600 sub
jects under their direct domination
or leadership
The American government with
the support Of other Western pow
ers built up japanese militariSm as
an ally against China. Japan aided
The Western powers in its control
OF China and the United States
aided her up until Pearl Harbor
with oil shipments. This country
supported the militarists in Japan
against the democratic forces there.
Mr.. Howard goes on to say: ITO
understand our japanese enemy to-
day we must understand this deep
and bitter conflict between the
military despotiSm and the people
Japenese militarisn is not only the
enemy Of all free peoples every
where, it is primarily the enemy OF
the Japanese people" With the end
OF the war il will be our response
b.lity 10 treat with the people OF
Japan and not the military clique
which must be destroyed, Mr.. How
ard states.
The author traces the growth OF
the present government in China
and tells Of the other groups which
have played part in China's his
tory. He discusses the Communist
army and evaluates its contribu.
tons TO the Chinese people. The
role OF the Western powers in China
is well known but il may not be as
we'll known today that the presen:
Kuomintang Party government
headed by Chang Kai.shek and the
Soong dynasty is the "protege' OF
the United States and has COOP
Grated fully in protecting our treaty
right there. The government OF
Chang Kai-shek has no Bill OF
X ghts. no judiciary independent OF
the party. no jury system. no popu.
lar representation in government,
no written constitution defining and
limiting the powers OF the govern
ment." The government OF China
must be made a representative one
IL China is 10 take her place In a
democratic world as well as for the
best interests OK the American
people.
There Is much more here than we
can touch on: the story OF Korea
and her betrayal OF the Western
powers; a short study Of the state
OF affairs in Asia as well as the
thorough accounts OF Japan and
China. In his concluding chapter
Mr.. Howard states that In these
Asiatic countries, as elsewhere In
the world. international authority
vested in a representative League
OF Peoples must be the supreme
arbiter in matters OF ornaments
and international relations and in
ternational affairs"
We recommend the book highly.
Despite the wealth OF facts IL pre-
sents, IL Is very readable and the
story IL tells is one that should be
known by every one interested In
/ the outcome OF the war and the
peace 70 come. That's pretty in
elusive, We think.
An article by william J. Norton,