Film 'Wonders of the World' shows Temples in Penang, Malaysia. Ayer Itam Temple in South India. The Snake Temple. Snakes on branch of a tree. Women and children outside houses. Tall trees in the background.
Officer fires artillery outside the Pekan police station in Pahang, Malaysia. Naval officers march while dignitary reviews them. Officers dance with women. Malaysians perform the traditional dragon dance.
Annual fire walking ceremony during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysian Chinese pilgrims gather at a Taoist temple for the annual fire walking ceremony. Chinese pilgrims bowing and offering incense. They prepare the fire bed. Man holding a Taoist white flag while chanting. Malaysian Chinese carrying an Emperor God palanquin. Pilgrims carrying palanquin run and walk on fire bed. More pilgrims walk on fire bed.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy visits South Korea after his meetings with leaders in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia. Robert Kennedy and his wife, Ethel Kennedy, meet United States military soldiers and commanders near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). He and his wife meets with Korean President Park Chung-hee, his wife Yuk Young-soo, and other Korean officials. Robert Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy pose with President Park Chung-hee and Yuk Young-soo as press photographers take photos.
Film opens showing reenactment of Japanese attack ostensibly against Formosa, in 1894. Japanese troops and artillery are shown. The event is depicted in a critical political cartoon. Next, Japanese Admiral Heihachiro Togo is seen in 1904, standing with other naval officers. Then, Japanese warships are shown, firing barrages of naval gunfire at the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, Manchuria. Huge black clouds arise from burning ships. Scenes of Japanese people celebrating their naval victory. Date shifts to 1910. Cartoon depicts Japanese annexation of Korea. Cartoon illustrates Japanese actions in World War I when, siding with the Allies, Japan acquired the German-held Shandong (Shantung) Peninsula of China, as well as German-held Marianas, Carolines, and Marshalls islands in the Pacific. Japanese representatives are seen participating in Post World War 1 international activities. They signed the so-called Five-Power,Four-Power, and Nine-Power treaties, and participated in the League of Nations. Glimpse of two Japanese officers, followed by cartoon depiction of the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands, that Japan insisted on keeping. Cartoon shows them being fortified. A Japanese military marching band parades down a city street while being cheered by spectators on the sidewalks. Next, Japanese military General, Baron Tanaka Giichi, is seen in uniform with other officers. Cartoon illustrates the so-called Tanaka Memorial document that Baron Tanaka allegedly presented to the Emperor, in 1927, outlining a strategy to conquer the world. Cartoon then illustrates plan of conquest by acquiring Chinese manpower; Manchurian iron and coal; Siberian timber, coal, wheat, and metals; Tin,oil and rubber from Malaysia and the East Indies. The United States is shown as the last conquest. Views of ordinary farm and factory activities in the U.S. Cars parked in the Ford Motor Company factory lot. Japanese officials and legislators meeting in the Diet (Parliament). Japanese theater-goers and a Japanese woman singing with an American-style band, are shown as examples of activities the Japanese Government sought to discourage. A Japanese female ensemble in traditional dress, playing traditional instruments, is shown as more desirable. Western dancing and movies are shown and narrator states they were forbidden. Japese movie scene depicts ancient martial arts. A musical production displays German swastika flag and that of the Kingdom of Italy. Japanese men are shown playing the ancient game of Chu Shogi, instead of playing Western card games. People are shown in a library, where Western books are replaced by more militaristic tomes, such as: "If we fight" by Admiral Shinsaku Hirata, March 15, 1930 (shown on film slate). Slate goes on to quote about attack on Hawaii as the first battle in war of the Pacific. Film cites another approved Japanese publication: "Arguments Against American Policies" by Kawashima Seichiro, Christmas Day, 1924. It discusses distruction of the American fleet and subsequent landing on the U.S. West Coast.
The plight of South East Asian refugees, with focus on role of international organizations in Europe. Host Alexander speaks about increasing number of refugees since 1975. Victor Palmieri, U.S. Coordinator for Refugee Affairs, is interviewed. He speaks about international aid to keep refugees alive. Camp area of refugees. Refugees are sent to other camps of other countries. Refugees in camp. Alexander speaks about that lucky refugees who are resettled into US, China, Canada, Australia and France and others remain in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.