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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JANUARY 14, 1983
PAGE 7
protectorship that the American people cannot sustain without
economic sacrifice. But this is not what American officials had
in mind when they proddecr-the Japanese to increase military
spending. Judging by the direction of events in Tokyo, they may
now have to live with the problems of their dream come true.
Leaders in Asia who are old enough to remember the cruel years of Japanese
imperialism are also warning Washington--seemingly to no avail--of the con
sequences of its "logical" action. Note this dispatch which moved over our
UPI teletype on December 29, 1982:
Manila, Philippines (UPI)--Carlos Romulo, a world statesman who
boasts of being the oldest foreign minister on earth, had a few
words of fatherly advice Wednesday for the United States and
Japan: Don't ignore history. In an exclusive interview with UPI,
the Philippine foreign minister said the United States was making
a serious mistake by pushing Japan to beef up its military might
and Japan was equally wrong to listen.
"Those who ignore history tend to become its victims," said
Romulo, who served as Gen. Douglas MacArthur's aide-de-camp in
the Philippines during World War II. He turns 84 in January.
"I've always said the United States should be very careful about
making Japan its surrogate for the defense of the Pacific," said
Romulo.
The United States is pressing Japan to take on the task of
defending sealanes extending 1,000 nautical miles from the Japan
ese coast and significantly increase its military spending.
"The Japanese are a very determined people, they have brains,"
said Romulo. "At the end of World War II , no one thought that
Japan would become the foremost economic power in the world--but
they are. If you give·them the chance to become� military power
--they will become� military power." He said the United States
was encouraging Japanese defense spending because "America does
not want to pay the piper."
"All countries see no harm if Japan has to defend itself against
Communism--but do they need offensive arms?" asked Romulo. "We
must be careful not to encourage any aggressive designs ••.or
another co-prosperity sphere. Back in 1918, I told my American
classmates (at Columbia University) to beware of the Japanese and
my American classmates said 'those jokers wouldn't dare,
111
said
Romulo. "Well, they dared and Pear1 Harbar is the witness."
Romulo, one of the last surviving framers and signatories of the
1946 U.N. Charter, said he considered Japanese attempts to re
write history textbooks covering its role in World War II "a bad
omen."
He termed "very dangerous" reports that some Japanese
want to amend their constitution to delete the clause banning the
use of war as an instrument of national policy. "The handwriting
is on the wall for us to read," said Romulo.
The Philippine diplomat, who has been awarded most of the world's
major honors and decorations from the Pulitzer Prize ( 1942) to