Post
Region: Commonwealth of Liberty
Lodged | From | Messages |
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Philanialle |
TOKYO, JAPAN — EAST ASIA
DIPLOMATIC TALKS BETWEEN TOKYO AND AMSTERDAM | Just watching, Tokyo-Rome-Moscow enjoys WWII on the fence. Japanese showed good and bad signs in the face of this war. Every newspaper in Tokyo carried headlines that read: |
“The only thing that won’t happen are military acts by the powers that terrorize the Dutch Indies . . . or even temporary protection criteria.” | Japan would undertake to protect the Dutch Indies in such protection. After Japanese newspapers ran their headlines, Mr. HACHIRO ARITA, Foreign Minister, publicly announced to the international press with a certain air of importance: |
“As far as the South Seas are concerned, and especially with the Dutch East Indies, economically the Japanese Empire has a close and mutual relationship for the benefit of all. Tokyo is intensely concerned about the ongoing war in Europe, which could compromise the status quo of the Dutch Indies.” | In the Dutch capital, Mr. EELCO NICHOLAS VAN KIEFFENS, Dutch Foreign Minister, being a rather thin man with a large nose, small chin, fine hair and tired eyes, invited Mr. ITARO ISHII, Ambassador of Japan to the Netherlands to say a few words: |
“The Dutch Indies do not need protection, but thanks for offering it.” | However, Mr. JEAN CHARLES PABST, Dutch Ambassador to Japan, expressed gratitude to the Japanese Foreign Minister: |
“Thank you for maintaining the East Indies status quo.” | Those denials weren’t what Mr. Arita would like to hear. In Washington, Mr. CORDELL HULL, U.S. Secretary of State, made a brief comment on the Indies: |
“This will be largely beneficial as there will be stability, peace and security not only in the Dutch Indies but throughout the Pacific. Tokyo and Washington have cordial relations.” | But clearly these were just words spoken. For the Japanese the “New Order in Asia” is like the Monroe Doctrine for the Americans. For the world, the East Indies are the most valuable in terms of resources such as rubber and oil production. The Empire of Japan acquires about one-quarter of the Dutch colony’s oil. Exports from the East Indies are sugar, coffee, quinine, tobacco, copra, spices, livestock, wood, coal, tin, gold and silver that the Japanese can use. The large local population is a cheap labor for Japanese companies. If any nation took over this huge basin of precious resources, Tokyo would only be harmed. The loss of East Indies oil would result in a possible U.S. embargo, it would be horrible for the Japanese. But on the one hand, if the Japanese Empire took the East Indies, the New Order of Japan would come to fruition, the Japanese could even threaten Washington with a rubber and tin embargo. Where Tokyo would also have islands that would facilitate the attack on Singapore. The Japanese Empire would separate Hong Kong, Indochina, Philippines from the West. | | Such a careless man is Herr Heidler, when he invaded the Netherlands he put ahead of Japan the chance to invade the East Indies — it looked like Herr Heidler might — could Japan have that chance? Possibly yes. Both Great Britain and France will only be able to intervene to a limited extent. According to American experts, who consider the Philippines an unsustainable region for a war, it is practically impossible for a fleet stationed in the Pacific to worry about fighting the invasion of the East Indies. America is too far from Asia for them to defend the Dutch colony. Japan now undoubtedly believes strongly in this perspective when Herr Heidler believed that British “pacification” could take place. The East India Army is reduced to a police force for the sole purpose of maintaining order among the natives. The Dutch navy would not be able to repel the Japanese fleet for a long period of time, although the invaders foolishly attacked far from home. The Japanese fleet is more prepared for war than the Imperial Army. If the U.S. Secretary of State’s warning is just an illusion, and some observers hope that Japan will one day stop causing crises when there are no police around. If that happens, the angry cop will be the U.S. — as the West knows, Japan considers the Pacific its focus. | Nonador, Paramountica, Rutannia, Paseo, and 5 othersVictoria Harbor, Pontianus, Ranponian, New Provenance, and Maziya |