Evening star., 1948-11-28

VI dlAlo dIlu dAlulpIAIlOl WllACl Y!
him may not have any effect on the
ultimate decision in the battles now
raging in the Peiping- -Suchow area.
Present military developments in
the Far East are causing deeper
concern among those responsible for
this country's national defense than
are conditions in Europe. Gen. Mac
Arthur is sending long dispatches
from Tokyo pointing out that with
the fall of Manchuria we have lost
World War II in Asia, and that
Japan itself soon may be threatened.
Macarthur Shows Concern
This opinion is shared fully by the
general staff in Washington. Our
top-ranking strategists fear, how
ever, that there is nothing much
that can be done to save the Chang
regime, which was important to us
because it was willing and anxious
to cooperate with the United States.
The dispatches from Tokyo show
how genuinely concerned the su-
preme allied commander is over
what may happen in Japan if the
Chinese Communists Moscow's
puppets-establish a firm hold on
that section of China which faces
Japan.
In spite of the liberal and intel
ligent administrator of Japan under
the leadership of Gen. Macarthur,
there is little doubt that our position
in Japan will be more than pre-
carious, if Russian influence is
established on the opposite shores of
the Sea of Japan and the Yellow
Sea.
The Japanese people are CO.
operating with American authorities
because there is nothing else they
can do. But the humiliation of de-
feat and of a strict military occupa-
ton makes them amenable to any
kind of propaganda against US.
Limited Force in Japan
There are, of course, many en-
lightened people in the islands who
appreciate the fact that only
through genuine cooperation with
the United States and through
adoption of many elements Of our
system Of government can the Jap
anese. people hope to become free
and able to live decently. But the
rank and file of Japanese-who are
still intensely nationalistic and who,
despite our efforts at liberal govern
ment, still look on us as conquerors
would welcome any chance to get
revenge.
Our military forces in Japan are
limited. At the present time, when
everything is under control, they
can hold their own. despite the
gigantic task of policing some 85,-
100000 inhabitants of the islands
which comprise Japan.
Open communism has made few
strides. Only a handful of Com
munist agitators are causing jap
anese and American authorities any
trouble. For the present Russia has
not started to work on Japan, and
the Kremlin sticks to the slogan
First things first"
No major activities by the Com
munists are expected in Japan until
the Moscow-dominated Chinese
Communists have established them
selves firmly, not only in Manchuria,
Northern China and Southern China
as far as the Yangtze River, but also
in Southern Korea, which is nearly
ready to fall to the Reds like a ripe
plum.
How the Reds May Play 1t
It is only after these immediate
objectives have been attained that
we should expect to see the Com
munist agents begin their activities
in Japan. They are expected to play
two trumps: % Exploitation of the
hatred against the American con-
ouerors" and CD stimulation of the
fear that Japan cannot live under
democratic capitalist regime with a
Communist dominated regime across
the sea.
Moreover, it is feared that after
Gen. Chang is expelled from his
capital at Marking a cold war will
be started from the Asiatic main
land. If this should occur and If
the Communists should begin &C
tive work in Japan our position can
be rendered extremely difficult.
With the forces now at his disposal
Gen. Macarthur can hold the
Eastern shores of Honshu Island
from Tokyo to Kobe. but in the in
land there is serious danger that
the purely administrative American