Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-14
Jops Seen Watching
Trend in u. S. Press
Deriving Comfort From Outburst
on Surrender Policy, Says Writer
BY David Laurence


By David Laurence
Japan is apparently deriving consid-
cradle comfort out of the sudden OUT
burst of demands In America for def
milton of our unconditional surren-
der" policy.
Sabao Iguchi, official Japanese spokes-
man. insists in broadcast that the
American people are afflicted with war
Crews recent statement about peace
feelers" was an effort to keep Ameri-
cans from firing of the war.
Undoubtedly the japanese are
watching the trend in the American
press, where agitation for definition
of the unconditional surrender" pol
icy has emerged coincident with its
discussion in Congress.
This Is precisely what Japan has
been hoping for-namely, that after
the war against Germany was won.
the American people would indulge
in parades and celebrations, demobiliza-
ton would begin and the Japanese
war would be side-tracked and ulti-
mately settled on a compromise peace
| basis.
Amazed by Odd Belief
1t is amazing the number of per-
sons here in the Capital who really
believe that all that stands between
a surrender by the japanese and the
ending of the war is some peculiar
| opposition in the American govern
ment here to retention Of the En-
| peror.
| Nothing could be further from the
| truth. The facts are that the Japa-
nese peace feelers indicate desire
to retain the present military caste
| in power and all the industrial
strength so that war can be renewed
In few years.
There is, of course, need some
day for spelling out more exactly what
the Japanese people may hope for If
they rid themselves of their militar-
istic rulers, but this is not the time
for any such definition. The term
unconditional surrender" means what
it says and the Japanese know it. The
phrase means complete defeat and dis
armament of the Japanese Army and
Navy and Air Forces.
1t means also, as President Truman
has publicly stated, that the japanese
people will be neither enslaved nor
destroyed. 1t means that when the
| japanese have surrendered and oc-
cupying forces have taken over, there
will be plan worked out for the
economic and political survival of
| Japan.
| Cairo Declaration.
In the meantime what the agitation
| really is aimed at is some definition
of political terms-what territories
shall Japan retain and what parts of
her empire must be given up. The
Cairo declaration has expressed off,
cially the viewpoint of Great Britain
and the United States On the political
terms Do those who now urge a def
milton of unconditional surrender"
really want the United States to
weaken the Cairo declaration and make
concessions to Japan?
Some day 1t will be necessary to state
explicitly what the political divisions
of territory should be in the Far East.
But it would be blunder for the United
States at this. moment to attempt such
a public definition when Russia has not
yet entered the war. Russia is a pow
erful factor in Far Eastern matters.
Russia's help in military way is need
ed and desired. If Russia is coming
into the war, how mistaken 1t would
be for any definition to be made before
Russia can be consulted and has
chance to make her decisions.
Besides, the next few months will be
utilized to apply the maximum strength
that naval and army air forces can ex-
ert. The campaign of destruction of
japanese plants and factories must pre-
cede any explicit definition of uncon-
ditional surrender terms. When the
time for expansion or explanation of
the phrase comes there must be no
doubt that Japan knows defeat. The
whole Asiatic continent must not be
left in doubt that it is victorious al
lance which spells out the terms and
not a warweary American and British
peoples looking for way out.
Time Not Yet Ripe.
The time to announce our terms in
detail is when air warfare has played
its maximum part and the British ana
American forces are ready for the cost
ly invasion that must be made If Japan
persists in last-ditch fight. But even
those terms cannot be different from
the Cairo declaration. There can be
added more details and an outline of
exactly what is to be done with Japa-
nese industry and her possessions, but
nothing can be left to negotiation with
the Japanese government. The terms
must be those which sensible victor
announces as the minimum that he can
| grant before letting loose the invasion
| after which the terms must indeed be
| more harsh.
The culprit who pleads guilty and
saves the state costs and trouble is
entitled to less Of sentence, but he
must nevertheless suffer severe penal
ties. That's the principle that can be
proclaimed some day to Japan but not
| now. The time for such calculation is
after Russia has come in the war and
DIR air rower has daStrovad the fod,,S