THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 13, 1941,
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
PACIFIC RUMOURS
Nothing has appeared that is clear and unmis- takable to support the persistent rumours of an imminent American-Jap- anese rapprochement, though Mr. Fadden, Aus- tralia's new Prime Minis- ter has given stimulant to the optimistic by citing "official information" as authority for the state- ment that the outlook in the Pacific has improved. Japanese continue to leave Hong Kong, the N.E.I., India, Singapore and the United States. Americans are taking every opportunity of re- turning home where cir- cumstances permit. The arrangement by which a British ship is to visit Japan to take off a thou- sand British nationals has not been rescinded. The assumption by His Imperial Japanese Maj- esty of direct control of the Army command in Japan has been interpret- ed as Imperial interven- tion to forestall the dan- gers of an Army breach with a Konoye Govern- ment bent upon concilia-
it tion. But has also been interpreted as a fur- ther consolidation of Japanese defensive mea- sures in the light of the "aggravation of a situa- tion which finds Japan surrounded on four sides.” Judged by what is vis- ible on the board, the risk remains just as
ever
that Japan, hard pressed internally, will move on the basis that the New Order for Asia has to be constantly reinsured, at a premium far surpass ing the original invest- ment.
WOR!
MINATION
HOW SOUR THE GRAPES !
Tokyo Policy
an objective about 2,000 "ONDITIONS in Japan must be
miles the present time, Chinese resis- worse than students of Far from its nearest major base at tance to Japan would be seriously
affected. Eastern matters have been led to Sasebo, dependent on the sup-
No other believe.
explanation plies it carried and to be received appears reasonable for the very in the future. long chance that country is tak- ing It is not difficult to conceive of reasons why Japan desires to keep up the momentum of its ag-
gressions.
But, in the light of the new
Bases Inadequate
or
True, no resistance from French authorities was anticipated made, and there are intermediate bases of sorts in the Pescadores
By Capt. Frederick L. Oliver,
naval and strategic problems with which Japan has presented itself, it is difficult to imagine how the could pos- Japanese authorities sibly arrive at the decision that auspicious results can be attain- ed.
For a long time the bogging down of Japan's military effort in has supped its strength China politically and financially, and has prevented the Japanese from reaping the advantages they feel otherwise would have come to them in the Far East while the nations, which in the past have in "The Christian Science Monitor" curbed Nipponese ambitions, have been at each others' throats.
sidered.
U.S.N. Retired
west of Formosa and at Hainan, distant 1,250 and, 800, miles res- Saigon, and but pectively from slightly less from Camranh Bay, But these bases possess none of the attributes needed to support a major expedition.
and Hong Kong are both strong bases lying athwart Japan's route from home country
[So far, Japanese bombings of the road linking Burma and Kunming, Capital of Yunnan Province, have been mainly hindered by distance and flying conditions. But within the past week Randall Gould, former Chief Far Eastern Correspondent of “The Christian Science Monitor," reported that sections of the Burma road were being de. fended by American-made plands, Fighter defence of China's supply route would add a new factor to Japanese efforts to block this artery.1 Doubtless Japan hoped no ef- fectiye. objection would be im- posed by the United States and Great Britain to a foray into Thailand. Perhaps what has been openly done is merely 8 teeler and future operations will be tempered to meet exigencies as they arise. But it is a desperate gamble that has been taken. Al-' ready the retaliatory measures amount to what is a total em- bargo on Japanese trade in prac tically every port of the world still open to commerce, except those in nearby. Asia,
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There are other parallels between Japan's
Glaring Weakness slogan, "Asia for the Asiatics,"
Entirely apart from the effect and Hitler's
of the economic measures which arrogant assumption that have been taken by the United States, the British Commonwealth, he speaks for Europe.and the Netherlands East in Foremost among them is dies, there is the glaring military Manila the fact that the Asiatics weakness of the move to be con-
who profess to know don't want the Japanese
to the territory it has elected to state that these measures will Perhaps the success Germany order. In Europe, the has attained with its panzer war- "protect." Both are heavily forti bankrupt Japan within six months fare where the flanks, and rear arefied. Hong Kong, or to be accurate, and will deprive it of practically Nazis maintain their rule left unguarded, impelled the its capital Victoria, is on an island every essential commodity re
which possesses great natural quired by its military machine; THESE FACTS MAKE by force, in Asia not a Janine plan at set, became an strength Manila can only be oll, iron ore and scrap, lead, cop-
Japanese to attempt a somewhat single oriental nation ral- expedition is under way with a taken by an attack in force over-per, zine, nickel, aluminium, cot- lies behind Japan. On the long and unsupported line of running the difficult terrain of ton, wool; in fact, all the materials communication, flanked by alien northern Luzon for the defence needed to wage modern war can. contrary, in four years of bases which can easily become of which the President has called be included because Japan itself
into the service of the United produces practically war to subdue China the enemy bases..
There is no information as to States, the military forces of the them." And by the same token Japanese have lost any how long Japan has been paving Philippines. Any attack on Manila Japan can dispose of none of its support they once enjoy the way for a southward move from the south can by reason of products such as raw and pro- but it is doubtful if any consider certain geographical features, be cessed silk on which it depends ed among the oppressed able stocks of material have countered by a comparatively for its foreign exchange.
From a military point of view accumulated small force. peoples of Asia. Without heretofore been
Transportation of adequate, sup So to save its face by bringing Japan has placed itself in an un- exception, all prefer the ples would have required the use China to terms, Japan has elected tenable position. It has thrust an rulers they have to "lib- of such a large number of ships to affront the nations that have expedition into territory which that suspicion would have been shown unprecedented patience will prove a cul-de-sac should eration" on Japanese aroused and Information of what with its antics during the past 20 concerted armed opposition be terms. Their ruthlessness was going on would have beconte yours in Teneral and since 1937 in brought to bear.
particular: known, în China has made the Consequently, Japan proceeded Japanese as thoroughly to project an expedition against detested in the Far East,
as the Nazis are in Europe. can possibly be achieved, Against the dangers that But the President's forth arise from that situation right challenge to Hitler in general, may be placed yesterday will not en- Tokyo's very obvious an- courage them to hope that xiety to avoid trouble with the path of appeasement the United States if that lies open..
Burma Project
none
1. With a vulnerable line of com- munication and no real advantage gained except a temporary amount of prestige at home for an army, Established in Indo-China it with a sadly tarnished reputation, may be expected that Japan's Japan finds it alficult to vind plans are to innitrate Thailand cate the move it has made. sufflelortly to establish air bases Singapore and Socrabaya are from which the Burma Road can still well over the horizon, and be blasted in an effort to stop the after assessing the stands taken: materials going to the Chinese. If States in reply to its recent ag Ching were deprived of these gression, Japan knows that any supplies, with Russia probably | further, encroachments will meet Having little material to "spare"at | with even stronger reprisals.
constantly increasing flow of war by Great Britain and the United
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