THE AIMS OF JAPAN

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20261, 2 August 1937, Page 7

THE AIMS OF JAPAN

MILITARISTS IN CONTROL. WANT ESTABLISHMENT NEAR RUSSIA NATIONAL SENTIMENT IN CHINA DEMANDS WAR. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received August 2, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, August 1. The Shanghai correspondent of the Times says that the Japanese military party has assumed full control of the political situation, irrespective of the peaceful aims towards China favoured by industrial and financial interests. The militarists desire to create a corridor in North China and to develop production sufficiently to support a military establishment close to the Russian frontier, believing that the Soviet Army, owing to the purge, is at present incapable of external violence. The militarists also plan a further extension southwards into China, which realises that if Japan is not opposed a great section of North China will be irrevocably lost. China’s military organisation, though improved, cannot match that of Japan, thus the Nanking Government favours peace until its military effectiveness is increased, but national sentiment demands war.

The situation in the Peking and Tientsin areas is quiet apart from sporadic bombing and shelling in districts where isolated bands of Chinese are maintaining guerilla warfare.