JAPAN AND BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 13

JAPAN AND BRITAIN

DELICATE SITUATION

FEAR OF TRADE BOYCOTT

CASE FOE OTHER SIDE

United Presi Association—Bj Electric Teleeraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 25. A very delicate situation confronts tke Empire in connection with tlic Japanese trade negotiations, says the "Sun" Agency. Japan's suspicions of Britain are deep-seated, and the Government, the public, the newspapers, and the industrialists are extremely sensitive, fearing the Empire is organising an anti-Japanese trade boycott. The tension is increased by allegations in Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Cominions, and the colonies of slave labour, which the Japanese bitterly resent, allegations which British official quarters admit to be unjustified. It is recognised that Europe is no longer able to compete with Japan's, China's, and India's low-grade manufactures, which can never bo displaced in the Far East. Britain's «ase contains several legitimate grievances. For example, Japan's ■commercial success has been largely developed by freedom of trade and navigation within the Empire. The Japanese refused the Empire a corresponding benefit, and furthermore refused to allow British ships to engage in interport trade in Japan. The Japanese luxury tariff hit Britain. Another severe blow was the expulsion of British tobacco interests from Korea, yet Japan fiercely resented Britain, then the only remaining Free Trade nation, reversing her policy. The British realise that both sides have a case, and will be guided by principle. It will be useless to retaliate for the sake of retaliation. The British and the Japanese must recognise that both would suffer in the event of a violent tariff war.