1941-09-11 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 11, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

COMING OF AGE

King Peter of Yugo- 'slavia célebrated his com- ing of age in London last Saturday. This event was of interest, not because a crowned head had reach- ed maturity, but because The stood as the represen

tative of a nation which heroically decided in the face of almost certain dis- aster, to resist German aggression rather than to submit without a strug- gle. Mr. Winston Chur- chill, announcing this great decision in the House of Commons last March, immediately fol- lowing King Peter's! action, stated in his usual happy phraseology, that Yugoslavia had at that moment "found her soul."

The decision to fight was undoubtedly a des- perate one and it is not surprising that Prince Paul, the Regent, in view of the country's unpre- paredness for war a fact for which he was largely to blame had other views. Not only was the Yugoslav army: almost entirely devoid of the mechanised units so essential in modern war- fare, but the internal and age-long dissensions between the conglomera- tion of communities com-

BERLING

STORMY WEATHER

Japan:

Is Change

In Policy Near?

Per

prising the kingdom of JAPANESE pessimism about Tremendously significant was emulating the sensational

Japan-American relations is the candid message of Kaname formance of United States Am-

international

Yugoslavia, was a source paradoxically a fortunate sign. It of definite weakness dur-is one of several indications that

time

policies ing a

of stress. Japanese

may begin to be based on realities. Nevertheless, Serbs However little sweetness there Croats, Slovenes, Dalma- may be about Dai Nippon nowa- days, there is at least starting to tians, Macedonians, Mon- be a little light-long overdue and view of the tenegrins, Bosnians and welcome indeed in

long and almost unbroken record Nerzegovinians rallied to or march toward darkness. the King's appeal and for

It is not stretching interpreta- a few days the Germans the Government's decision to in- tion too far to say, moreover, that met a heroic fighting voke full provisions of the Gen- eral Mobilisation Act may not be force which, though

without its redeeming features in finally defeated, was the long run. largely responsible for a mean war-but it may also mean number of vital altera- a turning point close ahead. Which tions in Hitler's plan of this will be depends largely on

Such extremism may, of course,

events far from the Far East, not-

Wakasugi, one of Admiral Nom-bassador Joseph Grew in Talcyo ura's chief aides, in a telephone many months ago by disclosing message from Los Angeles to the the true state of the American Tokyo "Nichi' Nichi." From an- position. Essentially, neither Mr other, the "Nichi Nichi" wouldWakasugi nor: Mr. Grew pulled: never have printed any such any rabbits out of any hats: but words. But from the man who is each proved himself an able and trying to carry first-hand facts courageous reporter to the public from the Japanese Embassy in at large, which is exceptional in- Washington to those in charge of deed among diplomats. shaping Japanese - policies

It seems safe to suggest that unless Japanese militarism ceives some quick and extraor dinary gift of good luck in the way of another adventurist op-. the words of Mr. portunity,

By

in

re-

Randall Gould Wakasugi are bound to have a

Former Chief Far Eastern Correspondent of The Chris- tian Science Monitor,

chilling effeut upon those Japan ese who have been disposed to drag Japan closer and closer to the brink of a war with AmericaTM which most Japanese "think can- not come to pass, but which all Informed Japanese know must be

does come to pass.

campaign. If Yugoslavia ably the Soviet struggle against had not resisted, the posi- Japan's ally-of-convenience, Ger- Tokyo, this message could reach ruinous, to their country if it ever

many.

Keeping Avenues

Clear

the event that the opportunity, for

the Japanese people and startle them out- of their propaganda- drugged somnolence.

Germany's Hope

that

What Mr. Wakasugi said is what scores of others might have said There but their information would have Germany hopes Japan will pro-

can be no doubt been stifled at its source by news-ceed along extremist courses but paper editors and Japanese Gov- there should be every doubt that ernment officials to a programme of letting the Japanese people Japan will move a single inch know only what they want to farther than she feels it secure and expedient to do from the strict, standpoint of her own in- terest. It will not be to its own in-

hear.

terest to run head-on into certain war with Britain and America...

Looking at the situation from