Oct. 19. to be hoped that the telegram quoting "Prie. Nederland," on the subject of Ribbentrop's calculations with regard to the Far East having up to the present misfired, will receive publication in Japan, though there is some doubt whether it will' Claiming to have especial knowledge the Neth Jands' Government's semi-official organ asserts that Ribbentrop is dismayed and annoyed because the situation in the Nether-ands East Indies has not worsened. He has been endeavouring to stir up the Japanese by alleging that the Hollanders, under British influence, would the forced to lease naval bases in the East Indies to the United States, and the impression is to be gained that the German Foreign Minister is doing his utmost to persuade Japan to yet into this war. That has been the aim of German intrigues in Japan ever since the war began, and the saturation of all classes in Japan with fifth column setivities, which is even more complete than mans Japanese realize has been directed to that end and that end alone. Ribbentrop's anger is aroused by the} fact that the work of German agents in Japan has not yet achieved successful results, is devoutly to be hoped that that state of affairs will continue, for Japan has noth ing whatever to gain by embarking upon a course of action which would inevitably lead to war, but rather has a great deal to lose, Apart from the failure up to the present of German endeavours to induce Japan to fight on the side of the Axis Powers, the stiffening of the attitudes of Great Britain and the United States view-vis Pacific problems is undoubtedly a contributing factor, though the possibility. of distrust existing in Japan of] Ribbentrop, who has reduced perfidy to a fine art, may also be playing its part. What some sections in Japan fully realize is that the extremists in Japan are dealing with men. who betrayed them over the Anti-Komintern: Pact, and may be suspected, therefore, of an equal readiness to betray them again should it suit the purposes of Hitler and his accomplices to do so. They may have been able fo persuade those at present in power in Japan that Germany will emerge victorious from this war, but to the blindest it must be apparent that if Germany ever had any: such a chance the history of the past three months clearly shows that it is definitely: receding.
That the Japanese are demonstrating a certain amount of restraint is evidenced in a Domei message reporting that, in a communique issued on Thursday, the Japanese delegates to the conference in the Netherlands East Indies expressed the hope that "the maintaining and promotion of friendly relations between Japen and the Dutch East Indies will be unaffected by the tripartite] pact." If that means anything at all it must surely be that the Japanese really desire the promotion of mutual trade interests without resort {0 any step which would affect the status quo in that part of the world. That, however, is not what Ribbentrop wants, He dearly wishes to draw Japan into this war in the hope that that country will be able: fo pull German chestnuts out of the fire of Hitler's making, and while extremists. in Japan are still desirous of going to the greatest lengths, the strengthening of the Position of the more responsible statesmen in Japan by recent developments may still result in Ribbentrop being thwarted.
Clearly what the Japanese Government! needs fo be on its yuard against are the machinations of such men as the German Foreign Minister who may be expected to continue his endeavours to persuade Japan That Japan is now showing, is so distasteful to him, for he sees in it the. possibility of a portion' of his foreign policy failing, as it surely will if wiser counsels prevail in Japan, and the country refrains from embarking upon a course of conduct which an only Jead {o an extension of the European struggle to this part of the world. In this connection it needs to be remembered that though Germany got off with a specta~ cular start in this war, the issue is still far from being decided.' Germany has got, fo beat Britain before she can consolidate her European gains. She is a long way from doing that, and every day she gets further away. Hence recent admissions that after all this would be a long war, admissions which in the circumstances should give even the extremists in Japan food for the most serious reflection.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.