Mr. Seigo Nakano, the tempestuous leader of the Tohokai, delivered himself of a remarkable speech which was published in these columns yesterday, and it is all the more interesting because of the fact that the authorities in Tokyo are exercising themselves over the fact that he has by now overstayed his leave. It would probably be more convenient if he were to return to his luries in the Diet, instead of verbally laying about himself in a manner which must cause some embarrassment to the Japanese Government. It is necessary to make it quite plain that Mr, Nakano is not speaking with the authority of the Government behind him. Indeed he at times has attacked it denouncing its policy as one of coquetting with both Great Britain and the United States, and of standing in the way of Japanese development. He considers the prompt apology for the bombing of the U.S.S. Panay made Japan cut a ridiculous figure; with the capture of Canton Japan made a mistake by not crushing the nose of Hongkong with the mailed fist. Great Britain and America are, according to him, Japan's real enemies n China, and in fact the fiery politician hed out in a manner which must undoubtedly have delighted his hearers. But when he proceeds to dilate upon the real mission of Japan in China he imports a degree of unconscious humour into his re marks which in the light of all that has happened is cynically delightful evils out of China and to she foreign Powers the honour which lost in East Asia are the purposes of Sino-Japanese ce-operation."
1f indeed Mr. Nakano and people who think like him are proud of the honour which has been lost since the commencement of the "China Incident," he is quite right in suggesting it should be proudly shown to the world. There are people who glory in iniquity and Mr. Nakano appears to be one of them. There has been much honour lost in East Asia of late.
There is little need to present a list of all those incidents which have demonstrated so clearly the loss to which Mr. Nakano seters. They are only too well-known to the world at large, but Mr. Nakano's desire to glory in those misdeeds reads rather strangely when so much insistence has been laid on the scrupulous purity of Japane: intentions in China. The claim that Br tain and the United States are Japan's real enemies in China is indicative of the strange mentality with which some Japanese approach the problems which this military venture has created. There was and still is no need to regard either of those countries as Japan's anomy either in China or elsewhere so long as Japan fulfils the undertakings h her leaders have given. That has mot been done, and it has to be admitted that the wilful and reckless manner in which Japan has disregarded the rights and interests of U other nations in China has undoubtedly created an atmosphere of distrust which M
Nakano views as enmity. There was, and is now plenty of room for all the Powers to trade in China, but it is necessary if the Japanese scheme for the exploitation of this country is to be carried to a successful conclusion io eliminate foreign competition which Japan so keenly resents. It does not in the least matter with what glowing phrases Mr Nakano seeks to idealize Japan's venture into this country, the fact remains that they merely cloak the truth that Japan is bent on a policy of ruthless exploitation. The reduction of China to a state of economic helotry within the political and military hegemony which Japan has established in the north is just as sordid a piece of the imperialism as that which Mr. Nakano so -oundly condemns, and no mouthing of fine phrases will for one moment hide that fact. They may serve, perhaps, to convince his compatriots who would like to believe in the essential purity of Japanese ideas witn regard to China, for the wish to be convinced must naturally arise in conditions such as have been brought about; but if Mr. Nakano believes for one moment that they will carry conviction amongst the other nations of the world his credulity must be even greater than his oratorical powers.
There is not the slightest doubt about the attitude of Mr. Nakano and people who think like him. He makes it perfectly clear in his speech that the aim of the Japanese in this "China Incident" is the eradication of all foreign influences in the Far East, and complete domination by Japanese. That the real objective which so many leaders in Japan have in view, and aítempts are being consistently made to attain that end. They have not up to the present achieved anything in the nature of substantial success. It is apparent that that process will not be carried through without very considerable opposition by those Powers whose interests are thus being menaced. Means of resistance which could be made most effective have not yet been applied by those most seriously affected by Japan's policy. That has yet to come, and when they are applied it is more than likely that people like Mr. *Nakano will then realize the fact that Great Britain, the United States and France are not quite so powerless as he would have had his hearers believe. Mr. Nakano revives the old complaint of the assistance which is being given the Chiang Kai-shek ne, He and those who think like him appear to believe that the truest form of neutrality is to withhold all assistance from China, whereas in truth to do so would be to betray all commonly accepted principles. Japan has not hesitated to purchase abroad supplies for the purpose of waging this war but resents the fact that her enemy should also permitted to do so. If the doctrine of who is not with us is against us real has to be admitted, Japan has indeed many nations against her. Her partners in the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis may officially approve of what she is doing, though even they are suffering inthe manner in which their interests have been menaced, but there i another nation in the world which can ly agree with what Japan is doing in China. They, as are the two countries against which My. Nakano levels dislike, are impressed with the great amount of honour which has been lost in the Far East, and are glad that they have not been the losers of it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.