Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1940. DANGERS IN THE PACIFIC.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1940. DANGERS IN THE PACIFIC.

A.N intimation which can hardly be read otherwise than as being’ of a decidedly purposeful character has been giten by the United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) in reply to a statement by the Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr 11. Arita) on the- subject of the Netherlands East Incjiest. Introduced, in a cable message from Washington, with the obsertat ion that : “The United States tonight warned foreign nations to respect the status cpio of the Netherlands ,East Indies, regardless of what happens to the Netherlands,’’ Mr Hull s declaration ran:— Intervention in the domestic affairs of the Netherlands Indies or any alteration in their status quo by other than peaceful piocesses will be prejudicial to the stability, peace and security of the entire Pacific. The statement by Mr Arita to which Air Hull replied, was. as it has been reported, that Japan could not but be deeply concerned over any development accompanying' aggravation of the European War and affecting the status quo in the Dutch East Indies. Japan (he added) was economically bound by intimate relations with the South Seas region. Should an extension of the war to the Netherlands produce repercussions in the Dutch East Indies, it would interfere with Japan's economic relations with the Indies and raise an undesirable situation regarding peace and stability in East Asia.

On behalf of the American Government, Mr Hull has now told Japan that the-present status of the Netherlands Indies must be respected. On the reasonable assumption that the United States is prepared to oppose any forcible attempt to alter the status of the Dutch East Indies, Mr Hull’s intimation is on all ■' grbunds to be welcomed.

Tn Holland it has been, protested that more or less alarmist discussions in the United States and Japan of the late ol the Dutch East Indies are premature and misplaced and it has been stated that the Netherlands Government “would consider an attempt to provide protection, which was not required and ■hot requested, as an act of hostility which would necessitate counter-measures.” It may be supposed, however, that the Netherlands Government would draw an important distinction between Japanese interference in the Dutch East Indies and the offer of support and protection, of the existing status of those territories implied in the declaration of the American Secretary of State.

The. merits of the existing situation, and of the situation that may arise, are in any case fairly clear. Even should she invade the Netherlands, as she possibly may, Germany would have little enough prospect of interfering with the Dutch East Indies otherwise than by interrupting their trade with their mother country. In. these circumstances no third party would have any legitimate excuse for interfering with the Dutch East Indies.

One interpretation that has been placed upon Mr Arita’s statement is “that Japan will at present, make no move- in the Dutch East Indies if other Powers refrain from doing so.” It perhaps may bo doubted whether Japan, in her existing circumstances, is much inclined to engage in new and dangerous military adventures. The leading aim of a series of Japanese governments, including the Yonai Ministry now in office, apparently has been to find some means of ending the “China, affair” and the intolerable drain it is imposing on Japanese national resources.

The present Premier of Japan, Admiral Yonai, is described as a moderate, an advocate of closer relations with the United States and Britain and a well-known opponent of military dictatorship. Last year, according to a recent American writer, Admiral Yonai

helped to kill the proposal that Japan form a military alliance with Germany. As a spokesman for the navy, he refused to countenance any European entanglement by saying that the navy would have to bear the brunt in any war that a German-Japanese alliance might involve.

In the eyes of Admiral Yonai and those who share his views, any reasons that appeared hist year for adhering to this policy of abstention may be supposed to have added weight today. With the problem of China still unsettled on her hands and her relations with Russia as doubtful as ever, Japan is under no temptation to embark on a course that would bring her into conflict with the Allies and very possibly with- the United States as well.

An earnest desire and determination to establish safeguards against aggression in the Pacific is the principal factor accounting for the enormous increase made in recent years in American defence expenditure, and particularly in naval expenditure. The total defence expenditure of the United States for the year 1933 was about (140 million dollars. The proposed expenditure in the same category this year and next year is approximately 2,000 million dollars per annum. This year the United States is to spend some 1,100 million dollars on its navy —nearly twice as much as its total annual expenditure on defence seven years ago—and next year’s expenditure is expected 1o be somewhat larger, apart from the fact that a further twenty-five per cent increase in naval strength is now being advocated vigorously in Washington.