AUSTRALIA WATCHES JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 9

AUSTRALIA WATCHES JAPAN

Concern Over Occupation

Of Hainan CANBERRA, March 12. The Japanese occupation of Hainan Island, between Singapore and Hong Kong, is being watched with interest by the Canberra authorities, according to a bulletin issued by the Federal Parliamentary Country Party. “The occupation of the island,” says the bulletin, “has disposed finally of any argument for an isolationist policy in Australia. It is realized that the strategy of Japan’s occupation may be concerned only with immediate necessities in China, but the post-war history of the Caroline Islands mandates affords no strong ground for optimism on this score.

“The general opinion is that we may .as well discard the use of the term ‘Far East’ in future consideration of happenings in Asia, The fact that Hainan Island is little more than 2000 miles from Darwin reminds us suecintly that we have the problem of a ‘Near North.’ ” STERN DEMANDS BY JAPANESE Control Of Shanghai Settlement SHANGHAI, March 12. Mr. Fu linden, mayor of Japanese Shanghai, has demanded better policing of the International Settlement, the reopening of the police station which the British closed, house-to-house searches for Communists, the surrender of the Land Office files, and a ban on the Hying of the Kuomintang and Chinese national Hags.