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Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1932, Page 4

Tumik can be but little doubt as to the determination of the Japanese to carry on their little war with China to a definite conclusion. A r et. although China has been caught unprepared, the native force- have been able to hold the invading enemy well in check, ft is because' of tin’s reverse, that the Japanese are hurrying up reinforcements, and the authorities appear more determined than ever to make their victorious impress on the situation. But for the seriousness of the position, its world wide effect, the incident, might pass as an international conflict, concerning the principal parties only. But Japan’ has defied the League of Nations in effect, and at the moment when a Disaimnment Conference is in session, is giving the best argument possible for arming rather than disarming ft remains to lie seen whether this little war is going to undo the hitherto hopeful work of the League of Nations, and at the same time settle the advocacy of disarmament so as the better to assure world peace. Japan takes enormous risks by her overt acts. Whatever gains she may achieve now, will be more than countered by the loss of prestige with the world at large. The latter is the weapon calculated to do the greatest harm when the thunder of the guns have died dawn. No doubt the great Powers have indicated something of this, and the Japanese are intelligent enough to realise the possibilities. Because of that feeling it i= difficult to understand the arrogance displayed in the face of world onjnion. The upshot seems to be that instead of disarmament there will be a strengthening of forces, and of navies in particular, so that already in this respect the world has drifted back to the conditions of tbe times before the Great War.