CHINA AND JAPAN

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 432, 13 May 1937, Page 2

CHINA AND JAPAN

ATTITUDE TO WAR. Masses’ Desire Ot Peace A penetrating explanation of the attitudes of three great Eastern countries towards war and towards certain internal aspirations was given by Dr. T. Z. Koo to a joint meeting of the Institute of Pacific Relations and the Auckland University College international Relations Club, at Auck land. The three nations were Russia, China and Japan. Of the first-named, Dr. Koo said he would say little, because In Asiatic affairs Russia would not be active, but would seek to preserve her own boundaries and develop internally. Many Chinese people thought that the Chinese Government should seek an alliance with Russia, but that had not been done yet, as the Government was strongly anti-Com-munlstic. Further, there was a Chinese proverb which said that distant water cannot put out a near fire. Japan, the speaker continued, had devoted all her diplomatic energies towards the recognition of the new State of Manchukuo. The Chinese Government, however, had been careful in its attitude. For example, when it was suggested that negitiations should be opened between the two countries, it had declined to seek postal and Customs concessions for through traffic on the Mukden-Peip_ ing railway. Arrangements were finally made through the respective tourist bureau of both countries; but China was careful that, no official recognition of Manchukuo was given.

The Chinese were essentially peaceloving, Dr. Koo said. This was their philosophy both in regard to force in international disputes and in their own private lives. In China, he said, a private quarrel was in many cases settled through a third person over a cup of tea. At the same time, a change could be seen in China, because military training was now in evidence in every part of the country. Speaking of Japan, he said that for the past four or five years he had paid an annual visit to that country. The mass of the people did not want war, but a situation had arisen where the people were made helpless by the military group The caste calling itself the “young officers” was particularly strong. The members believed they had a mission to end white domination, and to that end they needed the human and material resources of Asia. Those officers had a freedom of action which could precipitate war without the sanction of the public. of Parliament. A final settlement would come, only when the military caste was subordinated to action for the welfare of the people. Dr. Koo added that in future conilicts the Red Sea and the Suez Canal would be the strategic points, because if hostilities occurred it was probable that they would begin simultaneously In the East and the West.