Evening star., 1945-06-24

while they will be unable to manufacture
planes, guns and tanks they will be in a
position to gain access to raw materials
as in the past and devote their factories
to the manufacture of peace time goods.
They will realize that millions will be
killed if the war continues and that
unless they agree to cease fighting the
very social structure of Japan based on
the diety of the Imperial family might
be destroyed.
The claim of the Japanese that they
need "lebensraum" (room to live) for
their overpopulated islands is not taken
seriously by the Allies, who demand that
all the conquered territories should be
surrendered to their original owners.
There are fewer than 100000 japanese
settlers in Korea, territory which has
been annexed by Japan for nearly so
years. During the IA years the Japanese
have had complete control of Manchu-
ria fewer than $4,000 japanese have
gone from the homeland to that puppet
state which for all intents and purposes
is japanese colony. Hence, the claim
of need for territorial expansion is
being rejected by the Allies because it
means only a desire to conquer and
subject other nations to gain more
power and influence in Asia
Problem of Face" Arises.
Washington and London realize that
nature does not permit vacuum and
if Japan is utterly destroyed the Allies
may be faced with an unpleasant prob
lem for which they have prepared them
selves even less than in Europe
The japanese realize that they can
hope to survive and eventually enter
the family of nations if they ended the
fight at this time. But the pride of their
leaders does not permit them to accept
the unconditional surrender formula.
From all that can be learned, they have
indicated clearly that they are willing
to accept the majority of our demands
on the basis of face-Saving device for
themselves, but are not willing to accept
unconditional surrender even if it were
to mean only as much as it meant for
the Italians.
The italian surrender was, in fact,
negotiated agreement. The King of Italy
and his Premier, Pietro Badoglio, re-
ceived of-the-record but nonetheless
definite assurances that the dynasty
would be maintained and that she would
escape from the war unscathed except
for some slight rectidcations of from
tiers which are believed to include
Italy's sovereignty over her colonies in
North Africa and possibly some of the
Mediterranean islands The American
and British governments have gone SO
far recently in keeping their pledge to
the Italian government that they were
prepared to use force against the at
tempted territorial encroachment of the
| Yugoslav leader, Marshal Tito.
Italian independence Grows.
Furthermore, both victors have done
as much as possible to feed Italy within
the limits of their ability. regular
Italian government exists in Rome to-
day and it is expected that in the near
future, after the American and British
troops have been withdrawn, that coun-
try will become more independent than
she was under the monarchistic regime
| which was controlled by Mussolini and
Hitler.
| The unconditional surrender of the
| Germans was infinitely more devastat-
| ing since the Germans did not have the
| foresight to organize a real govern
ment prior to Hitler's fall and surrender
| before it became too late.
The Allies feel that they cannot re-
| scind the Casablanca slogan which has
captured the public imagination and
| has already been applied to two enemy
nations although in totally different
| form. The American Government is
| convinced that it can defeat Japan re-
gardless of whether or not We receive
| outside help. But it is equally aware
| that such victory-even if Russia de-
| cides to join us in the near future
| will be costly affair. The morale Of
| the japanese Army cannot be easily
broken since the Jap fighting men be-
ieve there is greater happiness and re-
ward in after life if they die on the
battlefield.
They have proved this in every one
of the many battles we have had since
Guadalcanal. 1t is true that their
losses are heavier than ours-the pro-
portion as a rule is about to but
there are at least 100000 trained Jap
anese soldiers still alive and they are
all said to be ready to die. The num-
Der of men who surrender voluntarily is
Insignificant. At this time it is still less
than ope-ha1f of nor cept
War May Be Prolonged.
While the German Armies decided to
abandon the fight when their reserve
supplies were exhausted the Japanese
soldiers seem to be little interested in
this. When they have no more ammu-
milton and their guns are silenced they
attack with bayonets and are moved
down and killed by the thousands. But
even such attacks cause casualties
which our military men would like to
avoid if possible.
AS things now stand it appears that
the chances are remote that Japan will
accept unconditional surrender-regard-
less of how much more advantageous it
would be for them to stop fighting now
than, say, eight months hence The
Tokyo rulers appear to prefer an even
harsher negotiated peace than more
favorable unconditional surrender. They
are fully aware of the immense Amer
ican war potential and know what will
happen to. their country if another
hostile power is added tn its nresent