Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1939. A DOUBTFUL AGREEMENT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1939. A DOUBTFUL AGREEMENT.

* ACCORDING to 31r Chamberlain, the formula of recognition upon which the British and Japanese Governments have agreed as a preliminary to Ihe discussion of the situation at, Tientsin does not connote anv change whatever in British policy in China. It must be hoped that the British Prime Minister is right but there is a good deal in the terms ol the announcec formula and still more.' perhaps, in the circumstances in which this measure of agreement has been reached, to awaken doubt and uneasiness. It is perfectly true, as Mr Chamberlain observed, that a question of fact is involved in recognising that hostilities are proceeding in China on a large scale. If recognition ol this “background” implied only recognising that it. exists, there could be no harm in the recognition. All the world knows that hostilities arc proceeding in China on a large scale. The really vital question, however, is the extent, to which a formal recognition that hostilities are in progress is to influence British action or inaction in China. Mr Chamberlain says there will be no change in British policy, but the Japanese meantime are celebrating what they claim to be a great diplomatic victory and. according to their Premier, are of opinion that Britain' has entered into an agreement which will be a big shock to the Chungking Government—the only government which has the slightest pretensions to national authority in China —an agreement which makes it unlikely that Britain ivill. assist General Chiang Kai-shek by means 01. credits and undei which it lias been established that “British rights and interests in China can be recognised only if Britain recognises the relations of mutual aid and interdependence between Japan, Manehukuo and China.” Baron Iliraimma. in fact, went a long way towards claiming that Britain had agreed to become at. least the passive ally of Japan against China. Mr Chamberlain presumably had the Japanese Premier’s reported words before him when he made his own statement in the House of Commons on Monday, but there is nothing to show that he made any reference to them whatever. On that ground alone, the British Prime Minister’s arid and unillnininating statement is calculated in itself to awaken doubts. 11 has io be considered further that the formula of agreement, has been reached at a time when aid i-British agitation is rife in Japan and in many parts of China occupied and dominated by the Japanese and when British subjects in the Chinese treaty ports are being subjected by the Japanese to indignities and to an invasion of commercial and other rights. The total anti-British campaign in Japan and in occupied China must be regarded as inspired by the Japanese Government, and army.- Any suggestion to the contrary can only be classed as entirely uneonvincing-.make-believe. A lowering of British standards appears to be involved in entering into any agreement with Japan while these abuses continue. The whole -position should soon be more cleailj defined than it is at the moment, but the outlook meantime opened cannot be described as either inspiring or as promising well from any standpoint. An exhibition of weakness in face of Japanese aggression is as good a way as could be devised of ensuring that the aggression shall be developed to its limits. Britain is entitled to protect her neutrality and her neutral interests, but she certainly would not do these things either worthily or effectively by abandoning China to her fate. Britain has every right to sell war materials to China, to be imported by that country over the Burma, road or by any other route that is open, and to grant to China whatever credits she thinks lit. Allowing Japan to dictate to her in regard to any detail of her relationships with the Chinese National Government, Britain would at once softer an intolerable hnmilial ion and become a party to an intolerable wrong. Air Chamberlain had something to say.in his statement in the. House of Commons about the recognition of facts, but it has yet to appear that he took any account of the principal facts that arise where China and Japan are concerned. These are that Japan is making a purely predatory and unprovoked attack upon a peaceful nation and that China is conducting a purely defensive war. It must be hoped that fuller light on British policy will show that there is no thought of a betrayal and desertion of China which in all likelihood would be a betrayal also of the present and future interests of the British Empire in the Pacific. “WHAT MIGHT BE DONE.” WHATEVER the precise circumstances may be in which Milt. S. Hudson, Secretary to the British Department of Overseas Trade, had his Urik with the German envoy, Herr Wohltat. who is described as a close ITieml ol Marshal Goering, subsequent disclosures and public discussion, in London and elsewhere, have made it fairly ideal* that any question ol a big international loan to Germany, in consideration ol her eiiteung into an. agreement: to limit armaments, is well beyond the frontiers of practical politics. Official statements declare that no such loan is Io be offered to Germany and Mr ( hambei Lun has said that it is nor the intention of the British Government to initiate any discussion on tin 1 subject.

Mr Hudson Ims himself stated that in his talk with Herr Wohllal he was only expressing' a personal view. Exactly to what extent an expression of personal opinion of the kind is disliiigtiished from some sort of tentative ofticial approach to the subject dealt with, it is. however, a little difficult to sax. One view of the matter may be that a Minister ol the ( row n can har( 11 v be said to have a mereiv personal opinion, because ho occupies a position in which (if he cent inues to occupy it) his personal opinions are liable to be translated into policy, or al all (“vents to influence the shaping of policy.

In the present instance, however, there need be no difficulty whatever in accepting' assurances that there is no intention of offering an international loan to Germany. According' to Lord Halifax. Mr Hudson discussed in academic terms measures ol economic co-operation that might be developed il political questions were solved and international confidence restored. It hardly needs to be pointed out that these essential conditions are-unlikely to be satisfied until the Nazi regime has been either replaced, or in souk* wonderful lashion ti ansioi lilt'd. Economic problems and difficulties tire mounting' in Germany ; md are to be numbered amongst the factors that threaten the peace of the world. If there is to be a peaceful solution of these problems and easing ol these difficulties, it is lot Geimain to open the way to Hie achievements implied, by reversing the process in which she is being converted more and more into a military machine.