NEXT WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1928, Page 7

NEXT WAR.

IN THE PACIFIC.

WORSE THAN LAST.

Grouping Of East Against The West. T . > FRENCH HYPOTHESIS. r . (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 11 a.m.) PARIS, September 19. Sarraut, Minister for the Interior, foreshadows a future war in the Pacific unless there is reconciliation between the antagonistic interests affected. In an interview he stated thai the Pacific had become a world problem, the oolntion of which involved even the future of civilisation. "Let there be no mistake," he said. "The Pacific is the theatre where there will be staged, at no distant period, the most formidable conflict that civilisation has over known and beside which the late war will appear a mere skirmish. '"For years the rivalry in the East was Anglo-Russian,. with Spain holding a few straggling colonies. Russia dreamed of seizing Asia and looked with ;nvy upon India, which is still the central pillar on which the fraternity ot the States of the British Commonwealth were erected. To maintain mastery Britain must absorb and penetrate the neighbouring States necessary for the protection of India. "While Britain holds masses of population in Asia under her control with Australia, New Zealand and Singapore as bases, Russia has a trump card in the trans-Siberian railway and the United States has a most valuable base in the Philippines, while France possesses a balcony overlooking the Pacific. "Thus the Powers are concentrating on the Pacific from every side with eyes on China and its vast markets, inexhaustible mineral deposits, hundreds of thousands of acres of oil lakes and its endless supply of labour. Among the rivals of the Western world it is a case of first come first served with the solitary exception of the United States, which only asks for the open-door.

"Relations between Russia and Japan have changed since 1904. Both believe the United States regards them with animosity. Is it forbidden, therefore, to imagine Russia and China assuring Japan of a Continental outlet for her population and thus allowing all three to look less timidly at & possible European conflict? Cannot we consider a nypothesis of Russia and Japan, solid in resistance to the United States; fearing an Anglo-American-French coalition in the Pacific; and dreaming of fraternity of arms against the white races? May they not then attack Germany and Poland in order to provide the necessary European incident capable of retaining the French and British fleets in Europe? This would prevent the Franco-British fleets joining the American in a Pacific war or defending their own possessions in the Pacific."