CHINA CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 271, 15 November 1937, Page 11

CHINA CAMPAIGN.

AS AID TO PEACE.

JAPAN'S HANDS TIED INDEFINITELY.

OPINION IN UNITED STATES.

(By H. B. BAUKHAGE.) WASHINGTON, September 21. Surprising as it may seem, Japan's invasion of China has served to boost the State Department's chances for bringing about an international economicconference and preventing a war in Europe. As a matter of fact, while they couldn't even admit it to themselves, officials here, much as they may regret the Chinese disaster, are congratulating each other. The reason is this:—

The one immediate danger of war in Europe was an attack on Russia by Japan, which would undoubtedly have started Hitler after the grain fields of the Ukraine.

Aa both military and civilian experts see it, Japan's hands are now tied indefinitely.

As a result the moment has been seized upon to reverse the former United States' procedure, of widely publicised meetings with foreign statesmen at the White House, to an intensive, undercover campaign abroad on the part of State Department officiate. These men, supposedly "vacationing" in Europe, are really making soundings on war prevention through economic co-operation. Francis B. Rayre, Assistant Secretary of State in Charpe of Trade Agreements; Sumner Welles, Under-Secre-tary of State, expert of the Buenos Aires "Good Neighbour Conference"; Leo Pasvolsky, special assistant to Secretary Hull, famous Brookings Institution economist, are among those who have sojourned in Europe this summer. Meanwhile. unofficial reports from CJreat Britain indicate that Foreign Minister Eden's radio talk favouring a trade pact with the United States was the result of public sentiment in Great Britain. War Impossible to Germany. Within the last few weeks the National Peace Conference, clearing house for several American peace organisations, has joined its forces in an effort to bring about collective security through economic agreements. This group arranged the recent broadcasts on which both Hull and Eden spoke. Germany, of course, and the other nations without raw materials, are vital to an international economic programme. While there is still an unbridged gulf between the economic policy of the Reich and that of the United States, certain developments in Germany are pointed out which may mean the possibility of a compromise there. First, Germany's extreme nationalism depends on her self-sufficiency. If selfsufficiency fails, the Government is either driven to war or to make a change of policy which permits international co-operation.

That complete self-sufficiency cannot succeed in Germany is generally accepted. Reports indicate that this is being privately admitted there and the threatened resignation of Economics Minister Schacht is taken as an indication that a change of policy in imminent.

Officials believe that, with Japan

involved in China, war is impossible for Germany. Hence, there is hope that the Reich may be able to .swing more nearly into line with the Idea ef'international co-operation, especially if the basis of discussion is an "examination of the economic needs" of all participant*. German Press Set Up. For the first time accurate information is now available in America concerning the complete set-up of the German Press, as administered through the Chamber of Culture of the Hitler regime. The information comes through documents, many of which are not permitted to circulate outside the Reich. They have been translated and collated by Cedric Larscn, formerly associated with the Hoover War Library in Leland, Stanford, now of the • Congressional Library.

The Reich's Press chamber (or cabinet) is revealed as the most important of all of the sections of the Chamber of Culture, and, with the German Press Federation, a group made up of editors and writers, controls the journalism of the country, limiting strictly those who take part in any phase of newspaper making. Violations of- the rules or ethics of the profession are tried, not in the ordinary.civil law courts, but in "vocational" courts made up entirely of members of the federation;

Six hundred newspapers are said to have disappeared in 1033 under the new regulations. Circulation methods are rigidly laid down and the official objective of the Press, according to Mr. Hansen's study, is service to the State rather than "capturing circulation from rival newspapers." The newspaper properties are privately owned but State-controlled.—N.A.N .A.