1941-08-18 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 18, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

-WINDSOR HOUSE.

THE CHOICE BEFORE JAPAN

The marked uneasiness

manifest concerning

HONGKONGK

GUARDED

DEFENCE

Japan's intentions is well SECRETS

justified. Gravely though| Japan is entangled in her China adventure, and bit- terly though her rulers may contemplate the fifth year of that un- declared war which

should have been over long ago, to assume that the Japanese could not undertake another war as Hitler's ally would be a mistake. Japan's econo- mic outlook undoubtedly adds weight to the argu- ments of the moderates against those of the dominant army extrem- ists; but there are other factors of great influence in Tokyo. One is con- sideration of prestige. Another is whether Japan's future can best be assured by casting, or by refraining from casting, her sword into the balances of Hitler's strug- gle with the Anglo Saxon democracies.

Капак

1. NOW

AND ABOUT TIME

RETURN

You To

N.B.C.

Invaded: But Never Conquered

Can the vastness

of Russia-Asia, Japanese invaders are still between the Volga and the Don! whose Soviet Government now attempting, after four years of in 376 AD.; through the two long centuries of Tartar domination controls one-sixth of the world's war, to subjugate the unconquer-

which left a permanent mark.op Russia as the Roman occupation did in Britain, the scourges of Ghengis Khan and the Golden Horde and, later, of, Tamerlane; the wars with Foland, with

Manifestly Japan is de-land surface and the fate of 170 able spaces of China. laying showing her hand million souls of

different races, tongues and faiths--now serve her oldest forms of

until the last possible as one of the

1

There is an analogy which may France, with Britain. Turkey and force combined

the yet provide the final lesson for France in

Crimes; against: treachery, which Hitler. But there are differences. Japan at the outset of the present most of Europe The tanks and airborne divisions century; up to the Great War, in under Hitler's heel?

and of Germany, much stronger than which treachery

stupidity made-Russia sign a separate peace- with the Central Powers, leaving the Allies to defeat the Kaiser, Russia's story has been largely of wars and invasions.

Somewhere in Russia's nine mil

By Frank Davey

-1.

moment. But so also is "defence in depth" against swift America, though not for invasion by the newest methods the same reason.

There of mechanised are two governing facts with internal in Japan's situation. One have brought is her treaty of political and military alliance with Hitler, the primary pur-lion square miles must be drawn the imaginary line dividing East poses of which were to

from West, which none dare de- neutralise America's

fine. In Soviet territory we pass power to aid Britain, and

from Europe into Asia. And in to check or delay Ameri- ca's entering the war on the British side. If it is because Hitler's action held that Japan and the intimates to Japan that Axis are succeeding in the he means to call the tune, was, after all, the first to con- slept in the Kremlin, but was second of these aims, they of the Tripartite com duct large-scale manoeuvres in routed by General "Winter"] Russia's greatest ally-and died in} are certainly failing in the bimation, and to call it as which parachute troops took part, St. Helena. Wilhelm II, the exile 'first of them. The other he likes.

and whose airmen have made.dy-of Doorn, has just been buried in the soil of a Holland held by and perhaps even strong-

ing history.

Hitler. with er, consideration

..

:

The real decision. for

Japan is that she. is Japan is whether she shall

the machine at Japan's command, are faced by the Red Army which

Russia and the Russians, Euro- pean and Asiatic, remain

against conqueror! But ever and conquered she has emerged triumphantly Russia..

Tamerlane and Ghengis Khan! died preparing to invade China. The Poles were once established in the Kremlin; now Poland lies bleeding at Hitler's feet. Napoleon

What fate will meet Hitler in

the approaching|

pledged to establish her play for her own hand or mystery. Can Hitler solve it? "new order in East Asia," for Hitler's. Prudence Invasion, successful or repulsed, à euphemism for enlarg- and self-interest would runs like a thread through Rus- ing her region of Imperial seem to dictate that sian history. Some of her greatest Russia only

months, can show. He inarches sovereignty, just as surely Japan should wait to hail literature and song have been against a former ally, as Napo as Hitler is committed to the victor in this world inspired by this theme. Borodin's leon did in 1811 four years after ballet, "Prince Igor," is founded forming a Treaty of Alliance with his new order" in struggle, and plan ac one"The Tale of the Host of Igor the Tsar Alexander against Eng-

"1812 overture celebrates the ly developed though the network

Europe. That resolution, cordingly. If, however, a legend of the Viking rulers of land.

Russin against nomad incur which has been reiter she deems herself unable sions. That massive masterpiece, His armoured. divisions müstĮ ated in uncompromising to retrace past steps, then Tolstoy's "War and Peace, he go through the same intermin- loved of novelists, paints across a able, forests of fir, silver birch terms, must take chief her course will probably huge canvas the picture of Napo- and pine as did Napoleon's hosts. place in any y appreciation be to attack. Japan leonic invasion, as Tchaikovsky's Railways and roads are still poor- of Japan's probable course knows precisely where burning Moscow from which of river" "communications remains of action. The German Britain and the United Napoleon retreated to meet his one of Russia's chief transport systems save when they are frozen, failure against Russia States stand; if she real: end at Waterloo. has, however, complicated ly desires that peace the plan as Tokyo had should be maintained in previously seen it.- not the Pacific, she can best only because Russia is a assure it by a speedy de Since the Huns the same such country the Russian peasant perennial distraction in claration of her own against whom the Great Wall of soldier has always been, in the China", was built drove the phrase, of Sir Bernard Pares, the Japanese policy, but also attitude.

Alant tribesmen from their landyi "champion' evader" of the world.

In the middle of last century, the building of rallways and roads was opposed as likely to spoil Russia's best defence-her im- penetrability from the West. In