PACIFIC CONFERENCE?

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21232, 1 October 1940, Page 4

PACIFIC CONFERENCE?

The suggestion that Pacific nations should meet in conference with a view to preserving peace has been made by Mr C. V. Whitney, president of Pan American Airways, after a comprehensive tour of Pacific countries. There is logic in the proposal that since the enemies of Britain are organising with the aim of dividing the world as they think fit. Britain and her friends should collaborate in an endeavour to prevent aggression and preserve their interests. Mr Whitney apparently assumes that Japan should be represented at the conference. Whether it is too late now that Japan has signed an agreement with the Axis is another matter. If Japan has chosen to exclude herself from friendly consultation in the Pacific—it is not by any means certain that she has—the reasons for the conference and the scope for it would be limited. The British Empire, the United States and the Netherlands are already in consultation. States which might possibly take part are Japan, China, the Netherlands East Indies, Indo-China, the American States and the British Empire. The maintenance of peace would necessarily imply the maintenance of the status quo, and those nations not satisfied with that basis would probably not wish to be associated with the conference. It is therefore questionable whether any more effective basis for collaboration is possible than that which exists at the present time.

The inference to be taken from the proposal is, of course, that the United States should take a more direct interest in the shaping of affairs in the Pacific, and that an effort should be made to win Japan to a realisation of the need to preserve the peace. That objective is a very desirable one. Japan, however, has expressed its determination to proceed with its southward expansion policy. If that policy represents an intention merely to expand Japanese trading influence it is not likely to clash with the interests of the United States or incur the displeasure of Britain. But if southward expansion means a threat to the independence of other Pacific countries, it is unlikely that Japan would see the possibality of any useful purpose being served by accepting representation at a Pacific conference.