What Japanese Nazis Are After

Control of All Pacific West of 180th Longitude

BECAUSE nothing of a sensational character has happened in the North-West Pacific since Japan, early in October, announced her adher ence to the Axis Pact, and her deter mination to create “a New Order in the East”, it would be exceedingly foolish for the European Territories in the Paci fic to imagine that nothing has hap pened. or that the general situation is not exceedingly delicate.

Japan, permitting herself to be made the plaything of German diplomacy, has committed herself to a policy which, if pursued on the lines announced by her representatives, must presently bring

her into collision with Anglo-American power. But it may not go so far as that.

All the Japanese are not Nazis and fools.

They yet may see the dangers ahead, and alter course.

MEANWHILE, they are pressing on with their preparations for their “New Order”. What is this “New Order”, exactly? It means a Japanese dictatorship over South-eastern Asia and the great islands in the seas to the southward. It means that Japan shall be as supreme in South-eastern Asia as Germany now is in Central and West ern Europe—where the Hun stands with his feet on the necks of a dozen pros trate peoples, and howls about his love of humanity and his high cultural standards!

The thing was well explained in the following cablegram sent from New York, and published in Melbourne “Herald” on November 14:— A former Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Navy (Admiral Takahashi), for the first time defines the scope of the “New Order in Asia”, which he says begins at Manchukuo and ex tends southward to Australia, eastward to parallel 180, and westward to the Bay of Bengal, says the Tokyo correspondent of the “New York Times”.

General Takahashi, in an article in the periodical “Himode”, declares that the “New Order” will be constructed in several stages.

First of all, Japan demands Manchukuo, China, Burma, the Straits Settlements, New Caledonia, New Guinea, the Philippines and Indo-China.

“Australia and the Dutch Indies can be in cluded later,” he adds, “and the New Order’ can be enlarged if our strength increases.”

The “New York Times” correspondent says that the above definition was evolved at a round-table conference of naval officers called by the editor of “Himode” to discuss Japan’s place in the Axis, and whether America and Japan were likely to fight.

Commander Hirade said that the Axis alliance laid on Japan the heaviest naval burden in her history, but did not necessarily mean immediate war.

Vice-Admiral Hamada said that America’s participation in the European war would auto matically involve Japan, but the Triple Alliance probably would delay hostilities.

The correspondent says that Admiral Hamada added: “War cannot be postponed infinitely.

Circumstances beyond control necessitate a Japanese-American showdown”.

Admiral Takahashi said: “Japan determinedly faces war with America, otherwise she would not have entered the Axis Alliance”. War could be prevented only by American readiness to abandon the “open door” policy, and recognise the “New Order”.

He strongly deprecated the Japanese tendency to belittle America’s preparations. The alliance was intended to prevent America from interfer ing in Europe, but she might interfere in East Asia. Until that day, Japan must be prudent and not provoke the United States, That does not seem to leave much room for rearrangement or compromise.

But it must be noted that these people who define their precious “New Order” —and who, therefore, are after Malaya, Burma. Dutch East Indies, Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea, New Caledonia and perhaps Northern Australia —are naval and military officers. The latter classes are known Fascists, and fiercely anti- British.

The great majority of Japanese— including the rich and powerful middle classes and industrialists —do not want war. They know, only too well, that if they get into collision with the United States (and any extension beyond Indo- China will mean war), the Japanese Empire will be destroyed.

The pro-Nazi Japanese, for all their talk of a “New Order”, know this very

well; and they are even undertaking their seizure of Indo-China (which is not likely to be a casus belli ) very gin gerly indeed. Step by step, they are taking complete control of the former French Colony, and there is no doubt of their ultimate object. They will try to filch Indo-China, but they will not expand further while Britain and USA stand undefeated.

But if our flag should go down in Europe, the pro-Nazis of Japan would get a great access of strength and influ ence. and it is certain that they then would try to extend their “New Order” over the regions mentioned above.

MEANWHILE, however, the Japanese Government -(at present actively pro-Nazi and anti-British) is push ing on with preparations for the “New Order”. In mid-November the Japanese Foreign Office announced the creation of a “Bureau of South Seas Affairs”, to deal with matters relating to Australia, New Zealand, Indo-China, Thailand, Malaya, Philippines, and Netherlands Indies.

The Japanese high officials seem always to be issuing wordy statements about their South Seas plans and ambitions, and one rather loses track of them all.

But, running through them all, there is one definite, underlying purpose: Japan, if she can, will influence and direct the affairs not only of the Asiatic countries near her, but also of the European colonies and dominions in the Central and South Pacific. If we lost the war, we should have to accept Nazi domination, through Japanese mouths.

That is the exact meaning of the Japanese-Axis Pact and the “New Order” in the East.