The Sun. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1928. GUNS TALK IN THE FAR EAST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 350, 10 May 1928, Page 8

The Sun. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1928. GUNS TALK IN THE FAR EAST

HEADLINES ill the world’s newspapers these days give prominence to the movement toward the renunciation of war, but the captions are dwarfed by those bawling the progress of actual warfare in the Far East. If placed in juxtaposition the announcements provide simultaneously both a drama and a comedy on the wide stage of international politics. First consider the diplomatic comedy: The rich and powerful nation which, in an ecstasy of idealism, gave the world the League of Nations, but obdurately keeps out of it, takes a leading part in urging all the Powers to renounce war and make a pact for universal peace. And America’s nearest friends and neighbours applaud the sentiment of the noble proposal, but merely nibble at its vital principles. While all their elaborate palaver about devising a multilateral pact for the renunciation of war goes on from promise to better prospects every day without ever getting to practical achievement, two nations that accept the League at Geneva and presumably are pledged to recognise the obligations and responsibilities of membership, are practising the old destructive method of settling their differences by the arbitrament of artillery. There is furious flgliting in the Manchurian city of Tsinan, where the roar of Japanese cannon shatters the covenant of the League of Nations. It is clear that Japan, in a mood of what appears to be righteous indignation, has more faith in the quick service of high explosives than in the slow gentleness of diplomatic arbitration at Geneva. Her vision at the moment is filled with the regrettable effects of the Chinese outrages on Japanese interests and individuals in Manchuria, and when the eye sees red the radiance of idealism is apt to become obscured. The Chinese Nationalists were given an opportunity to make reparation and desist from hostile action against Japan’s nationals in China, but they refused to heed curt and peremptory demands, and proceeded again to sow the wind that reaps the whirlwind. Tims the situation represents war without any preliminary declaration of war by either side. It has been reported from Washington that the United States Government may ask Japan to explain whether the movement of Japanese troops into Shantung constitutes intervention. If this rather fatuous question should really be asked, doubtless Japan’s diplomatists, with traditional politeness, will explain the whole business very politely, but it would not be surprising to learn that plainer-speaking folk in Japan are tempted to retort that, while their country has adopted a great many of the ways of the West, it has not yet acquired the art of exercising intervention in provocative circumstances by means of diplomatic Notes, or by splitting straws of argument. It is not easy for the average individual whose family is being molested and their property destroyed to study the constitutional principles of arbitration and intervention and to seize a pen as a punitive weapon. Nations, generally, are merely individuals in the mass. And there are occasions when the sword is mightier than the pen. Of course, it is to be regretted that the League of Nations has been thrust outside the cockpit in the Far East, but the lapse on the part of Japan, as also that of China, is no worse than the obstinacy of the United States in ignoring the League as the best moral force for securing a material renunciation of war. SPEEDING UP THE HIGHWAYS BOARD THE Auckland Automobile Association is showing a commendable determination to insist that something shall be done quickly to put the main south road in a tolerable state of repair. Members are quite right in their view that the public will not wait for a five years’ programme of reconstruction to materialise. It may take five years to replace the macadamised portions now in disrepair with something more durable, whether it be concrete or bitumen, but while the work is going on, temporary repairs must be effected. The regular use of grader and roller would do wonders as an expedient while reconstruction is being carried out. During the dry weather of December, January and February, the traffic scattered the loose metal as fast as the surfacemen put it back on the road, and great pot-holes formed which are still there. Now that seasonable conditions prevail and there is more moisture to bind the surface, the maintenance gangs should be able to effect speedy and visible improvements. The Sun has already demonstrated that this great traffic highway is as important to the Auckland Provinc! as the railway. Auckland is situated on an isthmus, and geographical conditions make the main south road a “bottle-neck” highway. All the traffic from both coasts, and the vast and fertile Waikato converges and joins the main, stream at Hamilton or at some intermediate point between Hamilton and Auckland. There is nothing else like it for volume in the Dominion. With the rapid growth and progress of Auckland, the main south road is destined to carry a vastly increased traffic in the near future. It is not merely a matter of coping with present-day needs, but of making provision for a 50 per cent, increase in traffic within the five years that the Highways Board wants to spend over reconstruction. We hope the Automobile Association will continue to devote its energies to speeding-up the Highways Board. There must be no dawdling or procrastination in dealing with this very urgent transport problem.