JAPAN’S ATTITUDE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1933, Page 5

JAPAN’S ATTITUDE

CRISIS PRODUCED

ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION. 'United Press Association—7l y Electric Telegraph—Copyright) PARTS, February 20. Lord Lytton, addressing a “New School of Peace” meeting under the chairmanship of M. Reynand. a former Colonial Minister, declared that the attitude of the Japanese general staff .resembled that of the Prussian? in the year 1870 and in 1914. Japan, he said, had not kept pac e with the latest Western developments of political thought. Though her Government was democratic, said Lord Lytton, Japan’s armies and navies, the heads of which were independent, were responsible onlv to the Government.

Th e attitude of the Japanese in Man, churn recalled the action of the authors of the Jameson, raid. It was no longer possible f°r any country to he the s ole arbiter of its action in the pursuit of % national interests. The general staff of every country was subfeet to th P obligations of international instruments. Japan’s failure to appreciate this .had produced the crisis. China’s future, he said, depended the .question of how, when and by whom would its splendid man power be unified into national consciousness. China faced the alternative of Geneva ot* Moscow. She chose Geneva. But, if Japan persisted, nind If' Geneva failed, China’.? ehoie P might, reluctantly, be reversed. Japan feared the spue rid of Russian Communism to Korea.

Sire was also anxious to withstand the rising 'ticL of Chinese Communism from the South. ..Instead, however, of helping the Ghiiue.se Government of Nanking to resist both of these movements, Japan had forcibly imposed a state in the -shape of Manchuria, thereby increasing the very danger that is to be guarded against. The Japanese peopL, had always supported the League of Nations, but the general staff, which were controlling Japan',? destinies, believed that they -could successfully defy both Moscow and Geneva. Peace, he isaid, did not lie that way!

AMERICA DISMAYS CONCERN

EFFECT ON WORLD CONDITIONS-

WASHINGTON, February 2C

Informed circles, representing the opinion of both the present and the incoming Administrations, believe tbaJ nothing effective can be done by the United States Government in the Manchurian situation—at least, fo r the present—although it is realised that events appears to be shaping toward an immediate crisis that is likely to have important adverse reaction,? on the Geneva 'Disarmament ’Conference and .in other International affairs. It seems clear hero that Japan has moved up her .scheduled invasion of Jehol Province, from early in March iast to the present, in order to inform Geneva with guns that L ?h e does not intend- to be deterred In her programme by world opinion.

It is an open secret that the United States officials regard the Arms C°'U-Ure-nce os being -hopelessly tangled, due to the -conditions in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

The Japanese withdrawal from the •League of Nations is likely to create a further stalemate.

There is some, concern for the safety of the Amenpn'n nationals in China, particularly tho-s-e in the Tientsin area. It is recognised that Japans present objective is Jehol, hut, in the event of serious resistance by the Chinese, it i.s realised that- “anything might happen.”

It is also realised there is th p possibility of a. Japanese blockade of the Chinese ports, which might create difficult international situations.

JAPAN’S NEW CONTENTION

JEHOL PART OF MANCHUKUO

TOKYO, February 21

The Japanese Government is supporting the Manchukuo authorities jn a contention that the province of Jehol is within Manchukuo territory, of which 'th° Great' Wall is the traditional boundary.

Marshal Chang-Hsueh-Liang, who formerly derived a liugg income from •Tehol opium traffic, ks sending troops to endeavour to interfere with tbe control of the Manchukuo authorities.

Japan is bound by her Manchukuo Protocol to assist Manchukuo to maintain Deace and order.

The. Tokyo army leaders estimate that a seven days’ campaign h neeessnvv to drive the Chinese hostile forces outside the Great Wall.

JAPAN BUYS BRITISH LINERS LONDON, February 21.

The “Daily Express” 'says : “Japan has recently made extensivp .purchpaPs of old British liners Tt is believed these presage the use of the linens for warlike purposes. Several of the ships have left British and European port: suddenly und<. r secret orders to report at Kobe before April 29th. Some of the vessels carry sufficient fuel to enable them to awojd any immediate call-

CHINESE TROOPS A DANGER

JAPAN’S ■ STATEMENT TO LEAGUE

((Received this day at 9.14 a.m.) GENEVA', February 21. Japan’s statement to the League tie.

dares that the Chinese have 144,000 troops i'll Jclhol itself. Thirty-three thousand arc massed immediately south of the Great Wall, constituting a m° st serious danger. The statement concludes that even in the case of joint Japanese Manchukno operations, the Japanese will -not advance south of th e Wall unless Chinese troop movements compel -her to do so for strategic reasons.

MAIN JAPANESE ADVANCE

may begin at any moment

(Received this day at 9:30 a.m.) PEKIN, February 21

Message,,? .from Toldo, where strict ccn'-pr-ship prevails, state that the •Japanese advance may begin at any moment. Passenger traffic between Mukden and Sha-nha.i Kuan was suspended from yesterday.

CHINESE- ATTACK GARRISON

HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF'

troops

(Received thin dav at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, February 21

The League Assembly meets to-day. .and proceedings will probably be confined to the president, M. Hyman’s outlining conciliation efforts in th P Far East. The actual withdrawal of Japan from the League was only possible following two years’ notice though it is expected ' that the delegation would withdraw afte r th e adoption of the report on Friday or Saturday. A Shanghai message state? that Japanese dispatches report that fighting tins commenced at Chauyangsu, where Chinese troops c .ndeavoured to surround the Japanese garrison. There are . apparently about thirty thousand Chinese concentrated in' a triangle, and about two thousand Japanese, the latter launching a counter attack. It is believed that they intend pro. ceeding to p-eipir.o for the purpose of controlling the branch line from Peking to tlic Mukden railway.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN JAPAN.' (Received this day at 10.20 a.m.) TOKTO, February 21.

Except Labour which numerically is negligible, political parties have united to support the Government in the hour of national crisis. To-day a mass meeting of eight thousand leading citizens of Tolcio expressed' stern determination to vindicate to the world Japan s policy which was established to secuie peace in the Far East.