BRITAIN AND JAPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 201, 26 August 1933, Page 9

BRITAIN AND JAPS.

DELICATE SITUATION.

Whole Empire Concerned in Trade Competition.

MANY-SIDED QUESTION. (United r.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, August 25.. "The Sun" says a very delicate situation confronts the British Empire in connection with the Japanese trade negotiations. Japan's suspicions of Britain are deep-seated and the Government, public, newspapers and industrialists in Japan are extremely sensitive. The Japanese fear that the Empire is organising an anti-Japanese trade boycott. The tension has been increased by the allegations of Yorkshire, Lancashire, the Dominions and the colonies of slave labour. These the Japanese bitterly resent. British official quarters admit that the allegations are not justified. It is recognised that Europe is no longer able to compete with the low grade manufactures of Japan, China and India, which can never be displaced in the Far East. ■

Britain's case contains several legitimate grievances. For example Japan's commercial success has been developed largely by the freedom of trade and navigation she has enjoyed within the Empire. The Japanese have refused to give the Empire corresponding benefits.

Furthermore, Japan refuses to allow British ships to ply in the inter-port trade in that country.

The Japanese luxury tariff has hit Britain. Another severe blow was the expulsion of British tobacco interests from Korea. Yet Japan fiercely resented Britain—then the only remaining free trade nation—reversing her policy.

The British realise that each side has a case, and will be , guided by the principle that it is useless to retaliate for the sake of retaliation. Britain and Japan must recognise that both will suffer in the event of a violent tariff war.