The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1920. THE DREGS OF WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3530, 17 July 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1920. THE DREGS OF WAR.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.”

There are yet wars and rumours of war; a supreme -suspense pervading most peoples of the world in at least three continents, and no one can determine when the next war cloud will burst, nor what will be its magnitude. The German menace has come to be regarded as perennial owing to Allied shrilly shally and German cunning and -eUioanery. To 'the Americans the Japanese peaceful invasion of their country is no less fraught with serious difficulty and although actual rupture and open hostilities, may be yet far removed their threatened severity and demand upon American life and trea- 1 sure renders that menace something intensely to be (Jraacted b;y~ AngloSaxon people everywhere. There are not wanting indications that the Japanese are desirous of trying conclusions with a first-rate power, and yet there is reflected in their acts and speeches, inside and outside of their Parliament, a shadow of fear arid uncertainty. , If a war with America meant rupture with limi-table power it is probable that Japan, would not hesitate to buckle on her armour and set to work, but there is a mighty fear in the Japanese heart that a set-to with America would 'be the signal for that great Armageddon between Occident and-orient that apparently must come. An attempt to dragoon the Chinese Empire behind the "battalions of the Mikado has so far failed. Force and frightfulness of'the German kind was resented by China as one mail. Then diplomacy was tried with no greater success, for the Chinese people have the best of evidence in Korea, Manchuria and Mongolia of what the real intchTTon of the crafty Jap. is. .An effort is now being made to pacify and hoodwink the wicked Chinee, the Japanese giving assurance that every vestige of militarism shall b‘e removed from Shantung, and: that trading rights taken from Germany will pnly bet re- ' tainod, but the Chinese arc playing the game of* wits just as cleverly as the : Japanese are. which is all very annoying, and disturbing to the plans of Japan. Conferences and conversations are invited to find a basis of agreement, but China tells the wily Jap. that to agree to any suph meetings would be some admission of Japanese right in Shantung, and they remind Japan that as Chinese Delegates refused to sign the Peace Treaty, they refused to acquiesce in- anything the •Treaty provided for, and it is in that position the trouble between the’brown people 'and - their yellow neighbours now stands. Other troubles the Japanese government is experiencing are found in Korea where there is a clam-ant-demand for self-government; in Siberia where Bolsheviks are persist- - ing in an effort to revolutionise Japan socially and politically r i hy vigorous propaganda. With trouble in China, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, and with , the Bolsheviks of Siberia it is doubt- ( ful whether the Japanese will go to dangerous 'extremes with America in j

connection with the Japanising of California. In all probability the Americans will persist with the dctor-

mi nation to prohibit any' attempt to convert California into a Japanese colony whilst. Japan is 'least able to demand right of free entry into the American States for her surplus population. '• It is noteworthy that Britain has not officially renewed the Anglo.Tapanose treaty, which is being referred to the League of Nations for

i an expression of opinion as to whether it conflicts with the League Covenant. From all points of view there • does not appear to be much likelihood of any armed conflict between ArnerI iea and Japan for some considerable I time to come. Nor does it seem probj able that the German Government will risk a resumption of war with the

Allies. Whatever disaster has fallen upon Germany it cannot bo denied that it was self-inflicted. The Germans know they have the. penalty of their folly to pay. and they are more likely le> pay it when hey arc satisfied they know what the Allied bedrock is rather than risk the further disaster by having their country invaded .by Allied armies Hitherto promising relations he.vp again assumed a rather alarming aspect, Foch end Wilson have been summoned to attend' the Spa Conference owing to the prospect that coercive military measures may have to be taken to- compel the performance of obligations [hat have been placed upon Germany, It is difficult to understand. however, how Germany can improve her social, industrial and political position by offering such resistance to the Allied final demand as would assuredly result in the seizure and -occupation of khc 'whole Ruhr Valley, from whence the bulk of Ger-

man coal xs"hiined. It was the inadequacy of German coal offers that resulted in negotiations being discontinued, and. it is reported that unless some unexpected interposition occurs ' war will certainly be resumed, but it can hardly bo realised that the German Government will choose a return to chaos rather than continue the general reconstruction that has made wonderful advance despite inaiiy difficulties! It is said “that reconstruction is more | rapid *iu Germany than in Franco, and I that the present deadlock is owing to j t(hc Germans selling* (their coal to j other countries in exchange for food 1 and raw materials instead of sending J it to France to compensate for the i total destruction of French mines. , Other wars that are using up much of the world’s concreted wealth, and are holding back reconstruction and stabilisation of industry arc, with the exception of the Polish-Bolshevik war, all in Asia, but the fact that in most of them European countries are involved, renders them detrimental to the progress of peaceful conditions in Europe as well as in Asia. The TurkoGreck war is proceeding favourably for Greece and for the Allies generally. The Bolshevik invasion of Persia is causing a good deal of trouble, but it will not be allowed to become a serious menace to the stability of the British Empire, which it seems to be, directed against. Other hostilities in which Russians under Lenin and Trotsky are involved may have the sting taken out of them if the report, cabled yesterday, is true, which states that the Russian Soviet Government has accepted Britain’a terms for a resumption of Russo-British trading relationships. Rejhrdless of all warlike complexities and menaces there is ample room for hoping that real and lasting progress is being made towards world-wide peace. This view is contributed to by the financial barometer. in which no sensational changes are present or immediately apparent. Exchange rate? arc commencing to get back towards normal in the most distracted countries, whilst in the British Empire the pound sterling will soon again assert itself as the basis of currency value for the teffiole world. Present wars and rumours seem nothing'more than the dregs and drainings of, the great, conflict, and the indications are that i they will soon pass away. : ■