THE FAR EAST.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 6

THE FAR EAST.

If the aim of Japanese policy is to bring the Chinese Government “to reason” the methods adopted are not the most likely to achieve that result. The aftermath of invasions is usually bitterness, and feelings of hostility are strengthened, although the fighting powers may b« limited. The most prominent of the writers on Far Eastern questions seem to agree that sooner or later war between China and Japan was inevitable. Mr C. Roden Buxton, one of the British delegates to the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations, listened to the problems being discussed by representatives from both nations and came to the conclusion that “there was a gulf between the Japanese and Chinese spokesmen which seemed unbridgeable.” The Chinese to a man, he said, were virtually hopeless of any peaceful solution. The Japanese apparently still held to the claim that their nation had a special position in China, which might make it necessary for the Government at Tokio to reject the principle of exact equality with the other Powers in that sphere. Japan felt that she could not approve of business enterprises, undertaken by foreign Powers “ which may involve political consequences at some future time, and be used to back up China in resisting legitimate Japanese claims.” Buxton interpreted their view in this way: “We have a special interest in seeing that no other Power obtains political influence over China which might be used against us.” That was the basis of the former demand for the right to veto concessions that the Chinese might he prepared to make to foreign interests. Japan objected to loans to China holding that some of the funds would be diverted from the original purpose and used to buy modern armaments. And to these demands the Government at Nanking replied with a plain refusal. The aid of League of Nations experts was enlisted to improve the economic position of the country, and the task of consolidating the authority of the Central Government was pushed ahead vigorously. The correspondents hold that the immediate aim of Japanese policy is to build up an economic bloc, with Japan developing the industrial side and Korea, Manchuria and North China producing the raw materials, especially cotton, coal and wool, and at the same time ensuring the industrialists large markets for their goods. Several times the Japanese have asserted that they had no territorial designs in China, but recent efforts to create local authorities in northern provinces looked very much like the method adopted in Manchuria with success, and solemnly represented to a doubting world as a spontaneous movement by the people against the former rule. It is over forty years since the two countries were at war, but for the past two decades conditions have been gradually worsening, and although there has been no formal declaration of hostilities the stage is set for a terrible conflict in which a helpless civilian population will be doomed to prolonged suffering.