Sept. 14.
The meetings of the Japan Privy Council to consider the {question of the recognition of the Manchukuo Government having decided in favour of that step there remains now but the mere formality of announcing it, The decision is not likely to create ithe sensation which Count, Uchida, Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, foresees, for anticipation during the past few weeks, and the knowledge that such @ move was inevitable ha robbed it of any startling qualities it may ever have possessed. But recognition rounds out, the work Japan has done in Manchuria during this past year, putting the coping stone on precarious structure which, from fall appearances, will take considerable Japanese energy and ithe expenditure of very much money to endow with any great degree of stability. At this [juncture it is not unprofitable to witness the change in the orientation of Japanese policy, and the manufacture of new reasons for that country's adventures in Manchuria and Shanghai. An attempt is now being made by writers of high authority Japan to preach two doctrines, which are in reality but one—Asia for the Asiatics and the establishment of a Japan Monroe Doctrine over Asia. Vis count Kaneko puts forward the latter basing it upon a conversa tion many years ago with President Roosevelt, while the editor Jof the "Diplomatic Review" a magazine generally considered to present official and influential opinion in Japan, endeavours to prove that the havoc wrought in Manchuria and Shanghai wa inspired rather by hatred of th foreigner than anger with th Chinese. A very old game afoot, and there appears to be a desire to show the Chinese people that "Codlin's the friend, not Short The article by the editor of the "Diplomatic Review" is produced in abridged form on the opposite page. In a most amaze ing manner the writer endeavours show that Japan's actions in China have been designed to curb the aggression of Western nations in this country, and to forestall international' super-of a China cursed with the chaos of civil war. At Geneva, the writer claims, Japan fought not China, but the world, and when she attacked the Woosung Forts and wiped out Chapel she serving notice on the League lof Nations and the United States ito keep their hands off the Far East. Further Japan loves China dearly, and the Chinese should understand that all Japanese recent actions have been actuated, not by less lov for China, but! by more affection for the principle of "Asia first, To that end the Japanese are determined to checkmate West, are prepared to leave the League if there be any obstacle iced in the way of their policy in Manchukuo, and even to sever diplomatic relations with the United States, If it were not for the important standing of the periodical in which such an article appears it would be possible to regard it as the vapourings of an individual completely bereft of a sense of humour which might have prevented such a ridiculous outburst. But the Jimportance of the paper, and the general belief in Japan that much of its contents are officially inspired does aot allow of it being 0 cavalierly dismissed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.