The Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1936. JAPAN MOVES ON.

Evening Star, Issue 22456, 29 September 1936, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1936. JAPAN MOVES ON.

Friction between China and Japan has been revived lately. The direct cause is attributed to incidents, more or less serious, which have occurred in Shanghai and elsewhere, as a result of feeling against the Japanese. Serious developments were announced, even to the extent of a threat from Toldo to issue an ultimatum, but .the latest reports are that the state of extreme tension has ended. To-day the Shanghai correspondent of the ‘ Manchester Guardian ’ reports that Japan has presented to the Nanking Government a series of far-reaching demands, including one for the autonomy of the five northern provinces of China. If this statement is correct, it is an illustration, if one were needed, of the methodical nature of Japan’s plans on the mainland. First, she established the puppet Government of Manchukuo, and when that was accomplished took virtual control of the Chinese territory southwards towards the Great Wall. Since then she has been actively interfering in the affairs of five northern provinces in. China. Among the demands

which it is said have been put forth from Tokio is the right to station troops at various points along the Yangtse. The reason for this is obvious. It is meant to establish military posts at strategic points along tho river, so that any hostile movement from South China can be resisted. Japan is determined .to guide the future development of Eastern Asia. This development is to take the form of close economic and political co-operation, directed by Japan, with China and Manchukuo. These two countries are to become increasingly important to Japan as suppliers of raw materials for her industries. It is because she fears China as a potential competitor that Jafiau mistrusts uncontrolled industrial development in China. She sees in any effort made bv the Chinese to develop their economy independently, or in co-oper-ation with some other nation, an attempt to hinder the fulfdment of Japan’s “ manifest destiny ” on the Asiatic mainland. In particular, she is apprehensive of British commercial and industrial enterprise, and tho recent smuggling developments on tho China coast, which were regarded so benevolently by Tokio, are considered to be a deliberate blow aimed at British interests. Japan is greatly handicapned by lack of raw materials within her borders which are essential to her industries. Especially is "is the case with coal and iron ores, while in China and Manchukuo these essential materials are deposited in great abundance. In peace time the importation of these commodities causes financial embarrassment in the manufacturing centres of Nippon, while in war time the difficulties would be increased a hundredfold. Under modern conditions oil is an essential commodity, and Japanese experts are busily engaged in prospecting for deposits on the mainland, while making a systematic survey of tho vast coal-bearing areas. At home they are testing the various processes of extracting oil from coal. Japan is using every effort, diplomatic and political, to gain her ends on the mainland. Frankly, the Chinese dislike the Japanese, but in the contest between a forceful and ambitious nation and on© lacking these qualities, and moreover hopelessly divided by internal friction, it is difficult to see how the Japanese penetration can bo stayed. In South China much hostility to Japan prevails, but in the north the resistance is not nearly so pronounced. Chiang Kai-shek is still the dominating personality at Nanking. It is roundly asserted that he has succumbed to Japanese wiles and money. His son even accuses him of going over to Japan and tacitly consenting to Tokio’s territorial schemes. The justification that he is said to make is that China’s greatest danger is not from Japan, but from Communism instigated by Russia. The message to the ‘ Manchester Guardian * says it is understood that the Nanking Government has intimated that Japan’s demands are not acceptable. It will be interesting to note the next development. Whatever it may be, it can bo taken for granted that Japan will not relax her aims of destroying whatever cohesion exists in China.