JAPAN'S ONWARD MARCH
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—our correspondent, Mr. J. D. Jenkihs, whose letters on the India he knows I always read with interest, has once again returned to the attack on Japan. I should have thought that his previous ventures in this direction would have made him more cautious ; but it seems quite -clear that he is a Japanophobe whom nothing can cure.
• I note that practically every point lie makes in his letter is a matter of conjecture and is based on the assumption that Japan is not allowed to have a policy of defence.
He says among other things that the " recent debate in the House of Lords made very clear how Japan is steadily securing control all over China." Because one or two noto- rious Japanophobes like himself make irrespensible state- ments in the House of Lords it does not follow that what they say is true. If it were, how is it that Mr. Hirota by pacific means and the Military Chiefs -by aggressive means (methods which incidentally cancel one another) are striving every nerve to break down anti-Japtinege feeling in China ? Why worry about it if Japan secures control ?
Again, your correspondent speaks about a canal in the Isthmus of Kra and of its threat to Britain. In doing so he assumes the Japanese domination of Siam. He also assumes that Siam under such domination would risk a quarrel with Britain, her nearest neighbour both to north and south. He 'also ignores the possibility of aircraft having to say something about the use of that canal for military purposes.
Though many of us, who are friends of Japan and who know Japan, regret the present activities of the Military Party (as indeed our own Foreign Minister hinted in his recent survey before Parliament), yet it should be borne in mind that this Party has made no attempt to take over the Government of, the country, nor does it seem likely that they will do so. Op the contrary, during the past few months the extremer patriots "of the right" have met with short shrift at the hands of the authorities.
Mr. Jenkins' fears are based on the assumption of Japan's 'control of China. This could only be brought about, if ever, by peaceful penetration and mutual goodwill, by which time the Military Party will have disappeared off the map.— W. H. MURRAYYours, &c., The Vicarage, Broxbourne, Herts.
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