June 25. reported from -Tokyo the Japanese Government is adopting a very cautious attitude with regard to the German invasion of Russia and the new problems which have thus been created. In that it is wise, for if ever a Government should be shocked at Hitler's behaviour it must certainly be the Japanese. When Hitler was loudest in his expressions of enmity for the Soviet he formed the Anti-Komintern comination, with Italy which Japan was soon persuaded to join. Russo-Japanese, relations were just about as bad as they could be, and while the wisdom of Japanese adherence to the Anti-Komintern Pact was questioned of the time, there is some ground for thinking that it was a perfectly logical development of the situation which then existed. In any event provided the Pact were loyally observed the position of Japan vis-a-vis of Russia was undoubtedly considerably strengthened.
That was the position as it existed until August, 1939, when on the twenty-third of that month the world was startled by the information that Hitler had signed a non~ aggression pact with the Soviet. Everything that the Anti-Komintern Pact stood for had been betrayed, and Germany the leader of the enemies ' of the Soviet had made peace with the adversary and left Italy and Japan completely in the lurch, No. better demonstration of the utter Jack of value in any commitment into which Hitler entered could possibly have been made, Japan definitely committed to opposition to the Soviet found the leader of that opposition definitely "ratting" for purely selfish motives, desire to embark upon the conquest of Europe, and fear of having to fight on two fronts. It is probable that had the militarist extremists not been in power in Japan a very complete stock-taking of Japan's international position might have been taken with beneficial re~ sults all round, But Hitler was able to charm the Japanese Government into believing all was well. He even tendered his good offices in order to bring about a better under~ standing between Moscow and Tokyo, and Mr. Matsuoka as a result of his trip to Europe was able to return with an understanding with Russia in his pocket designed to allay both Japanese and Russian anxieties.
That amounted to the second betrayal of Japan, The Japanese Foreign Secretary was used in this particular instance as a stalking horse for German aggression against Russia. Conclusion of an agreement with Japan, along similar line to the understanding with Germany, whereby Russian eastern oF western borders were guaranteed against attack in the event of Russia becoming involved in one place of the other seemed to make for safety all round. The whole scheme was a definite plot to create an atmosphere of false security while Hitler prepared his plans for his next stroke. Then came the third betrayal. Hitler invaded Russia, automatically bringing the Anti-Komintern movement again into being, shortly after Mr, Matsuoka had signed at Moscow a document only made possible by what appeared to have been its abandon ment: If ever there were a case in which one country was used as a catspaw to further jother's designs this must certainly be it, and there is now definite proof that Hitler's friendship for Japan depends, entirely upon how useful she may be to him.
Whether realization of the manner in which the Tokyo Government has been completely. deceived will lead to a reorientation of Japanese foreign policy remains to be seen, but the time has surely come for the Japanese Government to reconsider the whole situation and decide whether after all it has not been singularly unfortunate in the choice of friends. It must be apparent to the whole' world that there are still nations which honour their commitments. Neither Germany nor Italy come within that category, and any foreign policy based upon under:
indings with them must be not only unstable but positively dangerous. There can be no stability of relations between nations, when the government of one is actuated by motives which out-Machiavelli the author of "Il Principe" To place any trust in Hitler is to ask for betrayal. Tokyo has now had that thrust home upon it forcibly, and if the lesson is fully appreciated there may still be a possibility of creating a better atmosphere in this part of the worl
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.