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Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1928, Page 2

Tim .7apanc.se have an expensive task before them in their occupation of a portion of China. Although the lighting has not been of a serious nature, the preparations have been extensive, and are still growing. There arc .some qualms of fear of what the upshot will lie if Japan is drawn into the vortex and has to come to real grips with Chinese forces. The Southerners are proving victorious, and appear to lie able to reach Pekin. Such a success might easily arouse the fighting interests rf the masses and they may ho disposed to question Japan's right to Intervene, even temporarily. Some of the Powers are perturbed as to the prospects. v The British Government, however. does not take a serious view of the con Diet in Shantung between Japanese and Cliine.se troops. Nor rites it see tinv reason to believe that it will become more involved than it is at present, says a political eorresp.nndenlt. Dispatches received in diplomatic circles indicate that the developments do not suggest anything ill the nature of what might lie called true warfare. Japan’s activities correspond with those of Britain at Shanghai. Her aim is solely to enforce respect for her nationals and to protect them against Chinese attacks. Indeed it is believed that mo-4, of the attaks were penetrated by bandit bands similar to those which were responsible for the attack upon British nalioimls at Nanking rather than they represent any particular faction. In an a ii.noritative statement to political wi iters about the situation a diplomatic official said: Japan to-day can in no way be regarded as an aggressive nation. She lias suffered from a succession ol set-backs in recent years, politii ally, financially and by earthquake. The Japanese are now too much concerned in endeavouring to readjust tlicir own affairs to worry about other countries. Jiipnn is essentially a peaceful nation tin which peace is a nm-t vital problem. There is actuallv no political (onflicl with the Chinese. Moreover no nations have been working in China against Japanese interests. It is true that there lias been considerable economic competition. There is everything to suggest' that whatever action Japan may take in China it will he taken to ensure peace rather than to break it.