CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905 — Page 164

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Gent

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MAR 1942

163

¡imes

Imperial and Foreign

ATROCITIES IN

HONG-KONG

AMERICA ROUSED

From Our Own Correspondent

NEW YORK, MARCH 11

A

The Japanese atrocities at Hong-kong have shocked and sickened Americans, but they have hardly surprised them. After the unspeakable self-degradation of the Japanese army at Nanking anything, it was felt here, could be expected'; and as the New York Sun says to-day, five years of war in China, carried on under the eyes of foreigners, have amply taught that whatever bushido may mean to the Japanese among themselves it has no significance when it comes to the treat- ment of conquered peoples."

Like other commentators, the Sun says that it will not do to set down the be- haviour of the Japanese at Hong-kong to the account of Oriental barbarism,

for the calculated cruelty of which the Japanese have been found guilty is exactly of the same. pattern as that practised by their Nazi allies in Europe. Let the Poles say whether the British victims of Hong-kong have anything to envy them. It is all part of the strategic plan of the Axis, designed to terrify the peoples of the world into submission. Rather will it stiffen their determination to fight on until such deeds are avenged, and until the perpetrators of them have been rendered for ever incapable of repeating them.

JAPAN'S ATROCIOUS PURPOSE

The New York Times says, with Mr. Eden, that the vaunted bushido" of the Japanese has become a nauseating hypo- crisy," but that the atrocities of their army are not surprising.

Like Germany, Japan has started an atrocious war for an atrocious purpose (it says). For Japan, as for Nazi Germany, atrocities are never accidents. They are parts of a design. In inflicting these horrors on the unfortunates who come into their power, they_(the Japanese) enjoy a certain immunity. The United Nations must not and cannot retaliate in kind on the Japanese soldiers and civilians now within their lines. We cannot degrade ourselves to barbarian levels.

But Hong-kong may do for us what the sack of Nanking did for the Chinese. It may con- vince us that in the Japan of to-day, as in Nazi Germany, there is a spirit so diabolical that no peace can be made with it on any terms short of unconditional surrender. This evil thing must be destroyed, or it will destroy the world.