One of the truest indications of which way the wind is blowing in Japan has just, come out of Tokyo. Teiichi Muto, well-known Japanese commentator on politics and formerly considered to be one of Japan's staunchest champions of a nationalist and pro-German policy, is now waging a campaign in the "Hochi Shimbun" to bring his country and America closer together. The fact that Muto ig behind this campaign is no less surprising than that the article he wrote was published in the "Hochi Shimbun." the most pro-German of all Japanese newspapers. In his article in the "Hochi." a resume of which is published elsewhere. Mr. Muto stresses the fact tha it will take at least a hundred years to Wüild up East Asia and he reasons that Japan can war nobody wants-in a mad effort loi safely wait instead of blindly rushing into a realize a southward programme that is best left alone at the moment. That Mr. Muto does not think that Japan can wage a War now is evident from that the fact tha? he draws a parallel between his country during the Sino-Japanese war of the last century and Japan of today. Japan during the first Sino-Japanese war, he explains. was opposed by a coalition of three powers—France. Russia and Germany. To have waged war against those powers over the Kwantung question would have been suicide for Japan. he stresses in his article, and he significantly adds "A country must know how to yield. provided that at the same time it redoubles its courage and prepares for the fulülmens of greater tasks later." This is the most sound reasoning that has come out of Japan for many a year. It brings proof that there is a clear realization in Japan that the mad policy of hotheaded militarists. if followed by the government is bound to lead to one thing and one thing only—the end of Japan as first-class Power. Pessimists in the Far East Will no doubt, find fresh reassurance from Mr. Muto's words. which may be construed as meaning that Japan's leaders. realizing that blindly to push forward with expansion plans will mean war. have come to the conclusion that there is much to commend the old proverb "Look before you leap." America is willing to clear up all outstanding matt vith Japan on a reciprocal basis. Great Britain is ready to do the same. It is now tine for Japan to decide one way or another and to reflect on the advantages of blindly sticking to the Axis from which she can expect only moral support in the event of a war with the Democracies in the Pacific and to weigh up very carefully the advantages accruing from a rapprochement with Great Britain and America—her best customers and. if Japan is willing to kt them be. her best friends. Japan. of course, will be expected to change the policies that have gradually widened the breach between herself and the Democracies since 1937. but she can rest assured that "Fair play." two words unknown to the Nazis. figure prominently in the vocabul™ ary of the two great Anglo-Saxon Powers and that her legitimate rights throughout the whole of the Far East will be scrupulously respected.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.