Pro-Japan

Former Union Leader Pleads Case for Invader of China

THE pro-Japanese and, inferentially,

anti-British character of “The Sino- Japanese Conflict”, a small book just published by Messrs. Angus and Robertson, Ltd., Sydney (3/6), arouses a host of interesting speculations, when it is noted that the author is Tom Walsh, who was for many years a Labour offi cial of extreme views, connected with the Australian Seamen’s Union.

A Sydney knight, whose knowledge of international affairs cannot be treated with respect, says in a foreword that the author has sought “to present an accurate and unbiased picture of the re lations of China and Japan with the Powers”. Actually, he has presented, simply and effectively, the case for Jap an. It may be accurate, but it is cer tainly not unbiased. Having seen a good deal of the childish rubbish issued as propaganda from the Japanese Consu late in Sydney, in support of Japan offered, naively, as a serious attempt to clarify a confused situation—we should not be surprised to learn that this au thor has been in frequent consultation with Japanese officialdom. There are the same earmarks.

Of course, there is an excellent case for Japan. The Japanese, in China, were attacked savagely, and frequently, and murderously, by the undisciplined Chinese. In the areas under Chinese control, there often were lawlessness, stagnation and disorder. In those parts of China where Japan rules, there are orderliness, cleanliness and security. The Japanese, under intense provocation in China, displayed great restraint, and usually avoided giving offence to Eu ropeans. Mr. Walsh devotes 100 pages to proving all these things, which few dispute; and he concludes: “To those who look upon a legalistic solution of human relationships; it may be possible to prove Japan technically in the wrong; but it is impossible to do so on the higher plane of morality and humanity. On moral grounds, China can no more be left to herself than India or Africa could, once the Europeans in truded”.

The latter claim ,of course, is entirely a matter of opinion. China, in recent years, was being welded slowly into a united nation. The process may need another century: but surely the Chinese, like any other race, are entitled to self determination. One may not blame them if, feeling the strangling grip of Japan upon them, they fell furiously upon the Japanese, wherever they found them.

The main—and, in fact, the whole— point is that Japan is the invader of China. Japan has been trying, for long years, to get control of the Chinese Em pire; has already gobbled up Manchu kuo and the Northern Provinces, and made of them a close preserve for Jap anese people and institutions; and, find ing her slow, smothering penetration sporadically resisted by Chinese nation alism. in July, 1937, she suddenly threw the whole of her military strength against China. Japan is trying to get her merciless boot upon the neck of the Chinese nation; and the sympathy of the whole world goes naturally to the Chinese, who have put up such a re markable resistance.

Mr. Walsh argues apparently that Japan has some racial or cultural or inherent right to go in and conquer China, and control that nation for the

exclusive benefit of Japanese trade and institutions.

Well, Mr. Walsh argues alone. We agree with all the nice things he says about the Japanese; but there is not one word in the book to alter our belief that Japan’s invasion of China is an in ternational crime, and that Japan’s domination of China is only another step forward in her plan to dominate the Pacific —to the exclusion of all European races and institutions, including Mr.

Walsh. —R. Mr. G. A. Joy, British Resident Com missioner in the New Hebrides Condomin ium, will depart on long leave early in 1939.