Minister, made some significant remarks in the course of the first interview he has granted foreign newspaper correspondents, since his assumption of office. Not the least of these was his emphasis on the view that there was nothing contained in the tripartite pact which obliged Japan immediately to declare war upon the United States in the event of their participation in the European war, This is regarded as the first intimation of the flexibility of Japanese commitments to the Axis, When Japan joined Germany, and Italy in alliance, it was pointed out that by doing so she had definitely backed the wrong horse. Nothing which has occurred ince has served in any way to modify that jew. Indeed the fail tire of the Germans in their fight over Britain, the postponement of the much heralded invasion of those islands, trid the successes which Britain and Greece have obtained against the Italians on sea and land go a Jong way to support it. But Mr, Matsuoka now makes it clear that Japan's commitment was not so iron-bound as it was at first believed, for he clearly reserves to Japan the right to decide whether American intervention in the European struggle would be a casus belli, Here is to be found an indication that the Japanese government is not prepared to be-ome the pliant tool which Hitler would have it be. All along it has been plain that he has been seeking to make use of Japan for his own purposes. Nothing would suit him better than that the United States should become involved in war for that would mean the reduction of the assistance which is being vendered Great Britain. Mr, Matsuoka makes it clear that. there is no liability placed upon Japan to enter the struggle should Germany war on the United States, and if the Tatter went to war with Germany Japan still re serves the right to make her own decisions.
That in itself amounts to a rebuilt to the German dictator, for Tokyo has very shrewdly recognized the yama he is playing, and has made it cleer that it docs not intend to be led by the nose, ax Hitler has been leading, Mussolini.
AVhat Mr. Matsuoka apparently recognizes that no faith whatever can be placed in Hitler and his undertakings. That is being again made plain by the treacherous game he is playing between France and Moly. Th order to obtain the adherence of Marshal Pélain's government to his new order, he is prepared to throw Ialian claims against mee overboard, to betray his partner in rime just as callously as he betrayed both pan and Italy when he jettisoned the Anti-Komintern Pact, and came to an understanding with Russia in Auyust of last year. As Toni as that pact served his purpose he adhered to it. Directly it did not, he abandoned it, and broke his word to those two nations who had trusted him. In other words he made use of them without the slightest consideration of their interests. The same thing is being witnessed in China. Hitler has not, and will not, it is understood, recognize the Nanking Government, even though Japan has done so. He wishes for his own purposes o keep in with Chungking which he has also badly served. The Tri partite Pact only exists when it suits him: it is nothing when it docs not.
It was the greatest of pities when the extremists in Japan allowed the German emis~ saries to lead them down the garden path in the manner they did last August. Japan was to be merely another tool for the furtherance of German policies, obtaining nothing in return for the very' simple reason that Germany has nothing to give. If Mr. Matsuoka's declaration means that Japan is not prepared auto~ matically to assist in pulling German chest nuts out of the fire of Hitler's igniting,—and that is what his reservation must undoubtedly mean,—it is permissible to infer that the Japanese Government now fully realizes the kame Hitler is playing, and is not so willing 10 fill the role allotted to it but a short time ago. It may indeed prove fortunate that Hitler's schemes have been so completely seen through as they now have in Tokyo, for while it may not mean that Japan will abandon the Tripartite Pact, it certainly docs indicate that Japan suffers no ilusfons as to what Hitler has been up to.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.