Gareth Jones
[bas relief by Oleh Lesiuk]
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JAPANESE
EMPIRE IN THE BALANCE.
Crisis
seen in relations with the ‘white’ powers
Ravages
of Exploitation. The Task of Asia's Saviour.
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(By
Ishihara Koichiro, President of the Ishihara trading and Navigation
Company, Limited) The world has witnessed the conquest, by the white races of the coloured
peoples. Japan, too, was once
treated as if she were a dominion of the white races, having been subjected
to extraterritorial jurisdiction on the part of the
Occidental countries. Japan
was even forced by powerful foreign countries to return territory
legitimately acquired as war indemnity. Again, our people were employed as guards of the white races
in
the Far East. More recently
during the Great War our country made great sacrifices dispatching
warships to the distant Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
Thus working on the side of the allied nations, Japan did
everything in her power to win victory for them. Not withstanding this fact, the white races after the close of the
war, insinuated that Japan participated because of her territorial designs
on Siberia, China and the South Sea islands. All they did in the way of
compensation for our country was the transfer to Japanese mandate some
isolated South Sea Islands. Worse, they even went to the length of denying racial equality to which
she is entitled in the light of international justice and humanity. The rights and interests rightfully obtained by our country in
Manchuria were flouted China, who ran amok. This culminated in the
Manchurian affair, which in turn resulted in the independence of Manchukuo.
It is further
undeniable that, in the dispute between Japan and China, the white nations
constantly supported China with the intent to embarrass Japan. Our
Country has thus long put up to insults on the part the white races, but
we cannot stand it forever. In
the Manchurian Affair, Japan was completely isolated, 42 countries having
ranged themselves against her. Under
the circumstances, our country finally withdrew from the League of Nations
at present it stands in a military position, internationally speaking. The foreign countries of late have been doing all in their power to
exclude Japanese goods by raising the tariff wall in adopting an import
quota. They are also
enforcing a racial wall exclusion policy against the Japanese through
prohibition of Japanese immigrants and instituting economic restrictive
measures. Though the League
of Nations has been endeavouring to place Japan in difficulties, its
impotency has been evident at every turn. The decadence of the white races is clearly evident.
Although the foreign Powers are trying to exclude Japanese merchandise
through tariff barriers and import quotas, they will be unable to cope
with the economic power based on the great productive ability combined
with cheap cost. They are
unable to maintain a solid front due to their cheap cost. They are unable to maintain a solid front due to their mutual
selfishness, with the result that it helps unwittingly to accelerate the
advance of Japanese goods in the world markets. The restriction and prohibition of Japanese immigration by
the whites is further proof of their fear that they cannot compete with
Japanese in work. Japan’s
present solitary position, international, economic and racial in the
nature of things stimulates Japan to greater activity and advance. Diplomacy
based on Justice
Diplomacy
should always be based on harmony and co-operation, and not on strife.
International strife, that is war, is a disaster for mankind. International questions should be settled as far as possible
through peaceful diplomatic channels, not through war. It is evident, however, that settlement of international questions
is impossible unless the State concerned has national power, both economic
and military, if settlement through diplomatic channels is sought. Up
to present, the ‘white’ Powers have been oppressing the coloured
races, and through exploitation of the latter have enjoyed luxury and
prosperity. In boycotting
Japanese merchandise, the whites are dictated solely by the desire to sell
their expensive goods to the coloured races in their colonies, and it is
thus patent that they totally disregard the interests of their subject
races. Their oppression of
Japan is practically tantamount to the oppression of the coloured races as
a whole. The white Powers are
still pursuing a dogmatic, self-seeking, and oppressive policy. To bring the white races to their senses, Japan’s diplomacy must
be strong.
The
white races have so far been pursuing an imperialistic and aggressive
policy; the white races command vast areas for themselves, and have closed
the door against immigrants from other countries. On this account, the Japanese are confined in a narrow area.
All men, however, have an equal right to live, and it is no way
unreasonable to exercise this right and demand that the white countries
open up their colonies to other people. There surely is no harm in
demanding the right of equality for all mankind, and this is and should be
the sacred mission of the Japanese race. The Japanese have not the least intention of establishing a world
for themselves alone. We
must insist, however, that the white races recognize mankind’s equality
of right, as well as freedom of trade. And should the whites turn down this request, the Japanese will
have to be in readiness to safeguard such necessity through exercise of
the right of existence. Japan
does not seek war. But should
Japan be refused her right to equality, even though she tries to gain it
by peaceful diplomatic means, she will certainly fear national insecurity
of living. Japan must
strengthen her national power in order to avoid war. Equal right to Armaments
Unequal
armaments based on the London and Washington treaties are insisted upon by
Britain and America in order to support their unreasonable vested rights.
At the time our country was obliged to conclude such
agreements with them, having been unable to withstand their pressure.
Fortunately, however, the two agreements are to expire in 1936. And to take the place of the unequal agreements, equal rights to
armaments should be gained. In
all probability, however, this should, in such a case, the two countries
bring pressure to bear upon us – though we think it will be found
impossible in view of the actual situation – we shall have to rise and
hold our own against them. This is absolutely necessary for the racial development of
our people. Even if Britain
and America should resort to force against Japan, we need not fear, nay it
should be rather advantageous to our country if we try to settle the issue
by force, though it is a fact that the supreme policy of our country is to
realise our ends without having to recourse to war, if such be possible.
In order to attain our ends without using force, it is absolutely
necessary to consolidate and strengthen our national defence and to join
hands with countries, which have identical interests. The
Soviet Union, founded on the principle of Communism, is the only country
the political principles of which are utterly incompatible with the
constitution of Japan. She is
a constant menace to Manchukuo. As
a result, tension exists. The
basis on which the Soviet Union was originally formed was a purely
theoretical socialism belonging to the schools of thought of Marx and
Engels. In view of the fact,
however, that the welfare of the masses and the sound development of a
nation are impossible under such theoretical “isms”, the Soviet Union
gas already shifted to state capitalism, under which she is concentrating
her efforts on the development of heavy industry by setting at nought the
welfare of the nation. In,
consequence Russia is in dire straits. The sound growth of a nation is impossible when its people are in a
financially exhausted condition. It
is considered inevitable that the Soviet Union will have to depart from
state capitalism to some other form of “ism”. Viewing the Soviet Union from this angle, it is problematical
whether communism will hold good in the future. The
fact that the Soviet Union at present plots to menace and upset Manchukuo
does not necessarily mean that she is prepared to wage war with Japan.
It means on the contrary that she is obsessed with the nightmare of
a Japanese invasion into Siberia. The
independence of Siberia might be measure to perpetuate the peace of the
Soviet-Manchukuo border, but it would involve great sacrifices on the part
of Japan. It is open to doubt
whether the independence of Siberia is worthy of such sacrifices. For there are other things requiring earlier solutions. To
put it briefly, Japan must first further Soviet penetration into the Far
East. There is no doubt that
a Soviet invasion into the Far East has been a constant subject of study
for Russia since the Russo-Japanese War. From these considerations, the Soviet Union had better spend less
on her military arrangements in her Far Eastern territory, redouble her
efforts of expansion from the far East into Persia. In that case, Japan should be willing to supply the Soviet Union
with whatever the latter wants. If
the Soviet Union is a liberty to advance on Persia, she will have nothing
more to desire. A
rapprochement between the two nations both in letter and spirit is in the
cause of their mutual benefits. Further,
in all likelihood, it will affect more or less British rule over India.
Then the Soviet-Japanese rapprochement would serve as a check
against the highhanded policy of Britain in the East, undoubtedly ushering
in better relation between Japan and China. Germany’s Courageous Action
Germany,
the loser in the World War, was ostracised by the Powers as a violator of
peace and had to bear the stupendous burden of war reparations. She as stripped of all her colonies and was completely disarmed.
Her patience having been exhausted at last, Hitler courageously
divorced Germany from the League of Nations and decided not to pay war
reparations. Isolated,
Germany is now desperately trying to cut her way out of her impasse.
She at present has no colonies, while she tops the list of European
nations in point of population density (sic). Nor is she in a position to be on a self-sufficing basis.
Her international position from all angles closely resembles that
of Japan. Hence, there is
room for rapprochement. German-Japanese
co-operation is not only a step to save Germany from total collapse, but
it is an effective step for Japan to arrest the advance of the United
States, Britain, France and Italy into the Asiatic continent. It
would also consolidate Germany’s position in Europe, enabling the Soviet
Union to advance on Persia with greater ease. In this sense, a perfect rapprochement among Japan, the Soviet
Union and Germany is an absolute essential to the stabilization of
Japan’s position in international politics, prevention of war among the
nations and restoration of the principle of freedom of trade. Of
late, some improvement is noticeable in Anglo-Japanese relations, and the
resuscitation of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is rumoured. Against such rumours we cannot be too cautious.
True, the two nations concluded an alliance years ago, but Japan
had to act as a mere guard for British colonies lying in the Orient.
What is worse, Japan, because of the alliance, had no alternative,
but to involve herself in the World War by sacrificing a great deal,
materially and otherwise. After
the close of the war, however, Britain on her own initiative abrogated the
alliance as a gesture of amity towards the United States. At present, the British colonies in the Orient are in a state
of unrest. It may be on this
account that the restoration of the alliance has come to be considered
necessary. Japan then must be
cautious against such a proposal. The
economic interests of the two countries are not compatible. Japan’s policy must be designed to stop the tendency of the
British colonies and dominions to boycott Japanese goods, remove the
tariffs and all other barriers which Britain has set up in such lands, and
to establish the principle of the Open Door and Equal Opportunity in
Australia. The resuscitation
of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is meaningless unless Britain reconsiders
her attitude and upholds the principle of free trade and free immigration. War must be Avoided
Rumours
of a warlike outbreak between two Pacific nations are afloat in some
quarters, but it must be born in mind that a war, if it actually occurs
will not benefit the victorious nation although it will involve,
unbearable sacrifices. Every
effort should be made by Japan to preclude such ominous possibilities.
But if the United States challenges Japan to war, Japan of course
will have to take up the challenge. It
behooves Japan to map out such a policy towards the United States as it
may prevent feelings of animosity from prevailing. An
old saying has it that there is nothing more uncontrollable than a woman.
China is like an unchaste woman. She is a sycophant before the stronger, and a braggart before the
weaker. In dealing with such
a nation it is necessary for Japan to strike her first and then caress and
coddle her. Under present
circumstances, it is unnecessary to adopt any particular measures against
China, but if the latter plots some sinister action in reliance on the
United States and European Powers, Japan must reply. If a perfect Soviet-Japanese rapprochement results from the
stabilisation of the situation in Manchukuo and if Japan succeeds in
opening the doors of India, the South Sea islands and Australia, China
will naturally curry favour with China. To
make a long story short, the future foreign policy for Japan to follow
should be along the following lines: 1.
Rapprochement between Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union. 2.
Establishment of diplomatic autonomy in dealing with Britain and
the United States. 3.
Restoration of armament equality. 4.
Establishment of racial equality and restoration of free trade
principle 5. Racial unification of the entire Asiatic continent in order to save the coloured races from the ravages of exploitation by the whites. (Translated
by Contemporary Opinion, Tokyo)
The Japanese Weekly Chronicle, December 13th 1934. |
GARETH JONES (1905 -35) |
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