The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. IN THE CAUSE OF PEACE.

. In the St. George’s Day Message issued by the executive committee on X behalf of the Navy league, attention is directed to the new orientation of . naval policy following on the war, and s the conclusions which must he drawn therefrom. The navies of Europe, remarks the Xavai Journal, have almost vanished since the Kaiser’s “bc- , laurelled young Hoot” ceased to ho; hut in the far Pacific there have arisen _ two navies of formidable power, both in the hands of nations with which we , have the strongest ties of sympathy | and friendship, hut both symbolising a growing (oiitlict of forces which may ultimately escape from human control. The population of the Japanese Empire is about equal to that of the white population of the whole British Empire; its density is practically the same as that of the British Isles. If Britain needs outlets for the surplus oversea. Japan needs such outlets at least as sorely. But Japan has no vast stretch of undeveloped territory suitaide for the settlement of her population as Great Britain has in the White Dominions and in East Africa. The matter is further complicated lathe fact that the Japanese as well as other Oriental peoples are abandoning | their traditional diet of rice and are becoming competitors for the surplus of the wheat-growing areas of the world, while the latter, instead of l>oing expanded to meet the increased demand, are reduced by the economic chaos of Soviet Russia. There is. of course, an abundance of land fit for wheat growing jn Manchuria and other parts of Continental Asia contiguous to Japan. But the Japanese emigrant to these countries is hopelessly undercut by local and Chinese coolie labour as the Englishman is undercut by Kaffir labour in South Africa. Japan is not yet sufficiently industrialised to follow the British example and pay for her daily bread with ' the products of her factories, and, i 1 ’ she were to become so, she might so seriously interfere with the market for , European and American produce that , a new series of international questions Would arise. The remaining wheat-

growing areas of the world are in the occupation of the White Man, and here the Japanese for material and ethical reasons, are not welcome. It is idle to argue whether the ban is just or niljust. It exists; the whole of the white peoples whose shores are washed by the Pacific are resolved to maintain it. and forces which it is boyoml the "it of man to control will, sooner or later, bring it to the front for settlement by reason or by force. The situation cannot he met by ‘'ingeminating ‘Peace. Peace.' ’’ like amiable Falkland. It is one which fulfils the Hegelian definition of tragedy, as the conflict of right with right rather than of right with wrong. Britons, remote in their islands, ana not feeling the pinch of the shoe, have got to use their imagination to put themselves in the place of those partners in the British Umpire who are Vitally concerned. These include the Australians. New Zealanders and the dwellers in Western Canada., at any rate. In full symupthy with them are tile people of the United States, to whom the question lias already become

acute on more than one tie-, asinn. Supposing, unhappily, a eonllict were to arise between the United States and Japan ; imposing hostilities opened with the. capture of the Philippine Islands by the Japanese, as is most probable. What would be the position of the people of Australia.' It 0 impossible to doubt where their sympathies would lie. It is impossible to deny the advantage which the use of Australian ports would give to the United States. Should we not be fated with the alter-

natives either of making common c ause with the White Peoples, or of allowing the Dominions to be driven to

change their allegian; e ! We must, at all costs, ' avoid such a dread choice. We call, and should employ all the resources of statesmanship to arrive at a permanent, peaceful and equitable settlement while there is yet time. But our ability to do so rests upon the power of the Navy to demonstrate that our action is prompted by good-will and a genuine desire for peace and justic. - and not by weakness or tlaceidity of purpose. If. by the equipment of the Singapore naval base to meet tile needs of a modern Heel. b\ the provision of cruisers adequate in numbers power and speed, and in every other needful way, we show that we have- a will of our own and mean that will i tie respected, the prizes ol war will he too uncertain for any Power lightly to provoke it, and the Dominions "ill fool that sense of security, the absence of which is the cause ot more conflicts than any other motive which sways the human mind. We have written frankly. concludes the Naval journal, because we think the subject demands fraiiknc-s We ho| e it will also be re-

cognised Dial we have written with entire .ympatby both towards the Australian ami i lie Japanese point of \ i. The matter is at the back ol evelvhody’s mind when natal questions are discussed, and the oer lor reemisl mo-

tion of Singapore and I lie necessary increase of the cruiser and destroyoi 1 oree entmoi lie properly pieseiiled miles- a. is openly stated. The Was!: i ll ■ 11 ■ 11 Treaty admirable instrument as .-in,wing the desire of the nations to agree is nevertheless, a pact oT cronemv rather than ol peace, and mire the evident tendency is to bring about the rebuilding of the world's navies ill ac. ordain e w ith its terms, we must regretfully admit that even the purpose ol economy does not se--lii likely to fuddled. He that as it may. it is rh-ar that (Tent Britain ami the Umpire, with their roll!pietr dependence on sea eoinmiinieat ions, ran go no lurther

along the path of naval limitation unless there is a frank rei ogn it ion Inother Powers ol our especial needs. Otherwise, a spirit of unrest ami apprehension will spread through the oversea Dominions wholly inimical o

that peaceful devchnuiK-nl which i- in the lies! interests of the whole of mankind.