The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1933. CHINA AND JAPAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1933. CHINA AND JAPAN.

The position in the far East indicates, despite the League of Nations, that Japia-n is bent on conquering and holding a 'substantial slice of China. The Chinese organisation is very much out of gear, but despite that drawback, the Chinese continue to put up a very stubborn resistance, and Japan has to pay a costly price for the advance. The fact that J a.pan is ambitious and determined accounts for her national aspirations. Japan has its teeming millions ' and must find an outlet' for them. 6'he colour-line is a bar in many countries, ’ut the people of. Japan are claiming to be intelligent and educated, and growing in strength, are not going to be* denied. The Japanese navy ranks with Britain and America in many iexpects,... though die rate figures are 6—5—3, the last for Japan, but it is doubtful if those figures are the correct ratio for the- relative merits of the forces. The navy, therefore, iis a potential agreement for Japan at this stage, and brings more respect for the Japanese ca.-.e, than would otherwise be. vSo when Japan casts coveto-us eyes on Manchukuo as a desirable emigration outlet, the sea passage is assured, and the first hurdle is overcome. Japan. has something of a logical argument in seeing adjacent territory is in safe hands, even though the territory is so rich a.nd so vast as to make it a very desirable prize. There i.s also the fact that China has been breaking up for some time, and its war lords were fighting among themselves, and China might have become an attraction for Russia. Probably that would have happened ere this but the Soviet is s-o fully occupied in trying to work out the destiny of the vast territory occupied already. Still an outlet to the open sea in that quarter would, be a prize worth winning, but Russia has not the resources to take on Mich a campaign with hopes of success. "Japan was there as a watchdog if Russia, had made an overt act, and indeed one of the excuses for the raid on China is to save the country from Russia! Japan has great national traditions, and for a choice of masters the Manchurians will lie better placed under Japan in preference to Russia. Japan is securing the footing in the territory even while arguing with th. e League of Nations. The peace pact has certainly been broken, but Japan is seeking 'to justify that action as ne-ce.ssary for the . good of the country, though the steps are not in accordance with the international covenant. The League lias a delicate task to discharge. It needs to be fair, to China, even though that country is leaderless in national life and action. Probably the ditty can beat ho discharged by a degree of compromise which will not rob ,Tnr>nn of its prize, but create an administrative position over a long period so that Manchukuo will remain a. -separate entity. Douht-le-s ik-t wav will lu world pence and international harmony, and keep the League intact and still c-mW* 1 " of chi”' 4 nine 1 ' for the world’s betterment by avoiding war and its farreaching consequences.