1941-08-18 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST, 18, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE ·

THE CHOICE BEFORE JAPAN

The marked uneasiness] manifest concerning] Japan's intentions is well 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

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.

of

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Invaded: But Never Conquered

Can the

vastness of Russia-Asia, Japanese invaders are still between the Volgy and the Don' whose Soviet Government now attempting, after four years of controls one-sixth of the world's war, to subjugate the unconquer-

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

force combined treachery, which most of Europe

different races, tongues and faiths-now serve her until the last possible

of as one of the oldest forms 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- poses of which were to the imaginary line dividing East)

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

fine. In Soviet territory we pass And in

under Hitler's heel?

Somewhere in Russia's nine mil- lion square miles must be drawn

power to aid Britain, and| from Europe into. Asia. to check or delay, Ameri-

ca's entering the war on

in 376 A.D. through the two long centuries of Tartar domination: which left a permanent mark on. Russia as the Roman occupation did in Britain, the scourges of Ghengis Khan and the Golden Horde and, later, of Tamerlane; the wars with Poland, with There is an analogy which may France, with Britain, Turkey and

the yet provide the final lesson for France in

Crimea; against; Hitler. But there are differences. Japan at the outset of the present; The tanks and airborne divisions century; up to the Great War, in and stupidity of Germany, much stronger than which treachery

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.

-By- Frank Davey

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

But ever against conqueror and conquered she has emerged triumphantly Russia,

Tamerlane and Ghengis Khan died preparing to invade China. once established The Poles were

the British side. If it is because. Hitler's action

that! held that Japan and the intimates to Japan

in the Kremlin; now Poland, lies bleeding at Hitler's feet. Napoleon 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 bination, 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 fly-of Doorn, has just been buried in the soil of a Holland held by and perhaps even strong-

ing history.

Hitler.

er,

consideration with

The real decision for

Russia and the Russians, Euro- 'pean and Asiatic, remain a mystery. Can Hitler solve it?

Invasion, successful or repulsed,

What fate will meet Hitler in

the approaching!

Japan is that she is Japan is whether she shall pledged to establish her play for her own hand or "new order in East Asia," for Hitler's. Prudence a 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 marches. sovereignty, just as surely Japan should wait to hail literature and song have been against a former ally, as Napo Hitler is committed to the vietor in this world inspired by this theme. Borodin's leon did in 1811 four years after ballet, "Prinde Igor," is founded forming a Treaty of Alliance with his "new order" in struggle, and plan ac- on "The Tale of the Host of Igor" the Tsar Alexander against Eng- Europe. That resolution, cordingly. If, however, a legend of the Viking rulers of land.

Russia... against nomad. Incur- which has been reiter she deems herself unable sions. That massive, masterpiece, His armoured alvisions must ated in uncompromising to retrace past steps, then Tolstoy's "War and Peace, be- go through the same intermin- loved of novelists, paints across, a able forests of fir, silver, biral: terms, must take chief her course will probably huge canvas the picture of Napp- and bite is did Napoleon's hosts. place in any appreciation be to attack. Japan leonic invasion, as Tchaikovsky's Railways and roads are still boor

"1812" overture Celebrates the ly developed though the network 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 aystems save when they are frozeh. 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- perennial distraction in claration of her own Japanese policy, but also attitude.

In the middle of last century the building of railways and roads was opposed as likely to spoil Russia's best defence her Im penetrability from the West. In Since the Huns the same such country the Russian peasant against hom the Great Wall of soldier has always been, in the China, as built drove the phrase of Sir Bernard Pares, the Alant tribesmen from their lands, "champion evader" of the world.