Sept. 30.
The announcement of a formal alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan on Friday night. despite all the impressiveness with which it was made, lost most of its dramatic effect, because it was something which could have been anticipated ever since Japan Joined the two other countries in the Anti-Komintern Pact, which—incidentally Hitler threw over directly it suited him to so, The younger military clement in Japan have succeeded in stampeding the country into an alliance which can do Japan no earthly good whatever, and may serve to inevease its responsibilities. Neither Ger many, nor Italy, individually or collectively, possibly assist Japan while the British avy exists. Japan is just as completely elated as ever she was, and has entered to a bargain from which she can reap no benefits, though Hitler undoubtedly hopes that he'will be able to avail himself of the country's services in order to pull the chest= nuts out of the fire of his own making. With the extension of the number of his Allies, and consequently of those who hope to share the spoils of the victory he still vainly hopes to obtain, Hitler has clearly shown desperation over the failure of the aerial attacks on Great Britain, He has realized that the heart of the Empire is sound, and that the only chance is for him strike elsewhere. The Blitzkrieg has failed, and he has been foreed 0 the uncomfortable realization that he will after all have to fight the long war which Britain has prom= {sed him all along he would, Hence the mountains have been in labour and have brought forth the ridiculous mouse offi state of affairs wh al along. Tts announcement has created no dismay either in Great Bri the United States of America, and, cause it has been expected for a long time past, makes no radical change in the exist= ing situation. Tt cannot be expected to bluff ashington into changing a policy which has been adopted after the exhaustion of a patience which has been remarkably for bearing, and as a factor likely to influence the outcome of the European war is surely not to be overestimated.
If the opinion is held in some quarters that the United States would not fight if such a course were forced upon her, it is as well to remember that certain of Hitler's advisers held the same opinion regarding Britain and invasion, In this connection it is 1 to note that authoritative quarters in Tokyo express the opinion that Japan does not intend immediately to enter the struggle, It is to be hoped that the Japanese Government will continue in that intention, for the inroads which have been made into
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.