日本能否支持一個大戰的问题,是各国作家一直在公开討論的题目。这一问題的解答,對於遠東的以及世界的和平尤其對於正在‘调整’中的中日关係的發展,是具有重大的意義的。这問題寫来並不是簡單的。但日帝国主義正知道這问题不簡單,所以故意变弄戲法,来夸耀它的力量。我們被侵略的中国人,對這問题尤有密切的兴趣,因為中國對日关系的调整,是以正确估計對方的实力作前提的。不必要的讓步,徒使中日关系愈加陷入混亂而無法調整。去年中日谈判,對日本沒有什麼結果,但對中国則有很大的收获。這收穫的價值,在於對日本的實力作了較为合理的估計。但這估計仍是不夠的。为了準備充分估計起見,筆者想介绍一位英国女作家的研究。她的名字是Freda Utley。她從前做過曼徹斯特導報的特約通訊員,在日本住了幾年。以下的意見,是從她最近的著作Japan’sFeet of Clay中摘取出来的。這著作,最近在各國,尤其我国引起了廣泛的注意與討论。她是值得我們把原文或译文披讀一次的(編者按:此书最近已有譯本,改名日本的透視,由生活书店出版)。 Japan’s question of whether or not it can support a major war is a topic that the writers of various countries have been discussing openly. The solution to this question is of great significance to the development of peace in the Far East and the rest of the world, especially for the development of Sino-Japanese relations undergoing ’readjustment.’ It is not easy to write this question. However, as the Japanese imperialists are aware of, this issue is not simple. Therefore, deliberately changing the way of acting to boast about its power. The Chinese people whom we were attacking have a particularly close interest in this issue because the adjustment of China’s relations with Japan is based on the correct estimation of each other’s strength. Unnecessary concessions only make the relations between China and Japan plunge into disorder and can not be adjusted. Last year’s negotiations between China and Japan did not produce any results in Japan, but they did a great deal to China. The value of this gain lies in making a more reasonable estimate of the strength of Japan. However, this estimate is still not enough. In preparation for a full assessment, I would like to introduce a study of a British woman writer. Her name is Freda Utley. She used to be Manchester correspondent correspondent, lived in Japan for several years. The following comments were taken from her recent book Japan’s Feet of Clay. This book has aroused extensive attention and discussion recently in various countries, especially in our country. She deserves our reading of the original or the translation (Editor’s note: This book has been recently translated, renamed Japan’s Perspective, and published by Living Bookstore).