THE PROBLEMS IN THE PACIFIC?
SEELY, Lt. Comdr. C. S.
The Problems In The Pacific By LT. COMDR. C. S. SEELY EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third of a series of articles by Lieut. Comdr. Seely on the scope of the problem we face in the war against Japan....
...Individuals and groups upon whom the burdens of war fall heavily may ask if the war is worth the effort...
...Orientals are interested only in results...
...No Longer Gods Or Devils 6. Our tremendous, and rapidly rising, national debt and our diminishing natural resources may finally bring about a clamor for less government spending...
...Deeds, not words, count with them, and Japan's deeds—successes against the white race—have increased tremendously Japanese prestige throughout all Asia...
...That is, the other yellow-brown peoples may discontinue aiding us, and may aid Japan...
...This attitude may be good for our morale, but I doubt it...
...Anyway before we take it for granted that Japan will be a "pushover" as soon as Hitler is defeated, we should consider the following points: 1. Delay (necessary or unnecessary) in launching a strong attack on vital Japanese bases such as Shanghai, Mukden, Sasebo, Kure, and Osaka, may enable Japan to make herself impregnable, or nearly so...
...5. Elements within the United Nations which are now profiting by war may finally seriously imoede the war effort in the expectation of lengthening the war...
...This could force a change in our policy toward Japan...
...JAPAN, in spite of demonstrated strength, is still being underrated as an opponent by practically all Americans...
...2. After Hitler goes down, lack of agreement as to war aims—or many other things—may develop within the United Nations, resulting in a weakening of the war effort...
...The last article will appear in an early issue...
...Factor Of War Weariness 3. After the United Nations make considerable headway against Japan—say, for example, take Hong Kong or Formosa—and Japan becomes less of a menace to other Asiatic nations, those other nations may become more concerned about the white races' aims in the Orient than Japan's aims...
...4. War weariness and lack of interest in Asiatic affairs may finally overcome large segments of the nations now opposing Japan...
...The opinions and assertions expressed above are the private ones of the writer and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the the naval service at large...
...Before 1941 the whites were considered at best unbeatable gods—and at worst plenty tough devils—but the fall of Hong Kong, Singapore, and Corregidor changed all that...
...7. Japan may succeed in winning such a large number of Asiatics to her cause that she may be able to avoid total defeat...
...Those successes have been impressive beyond anv-thing any Oriental ever imagined...
Vol. 8 • January 1944 • No. 3
