N.Z. "IN PERIL."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1938, Page 7

N.Z. "IN PERIL."

JAPANESE MENACE

One of the Most Vulnerable

Countries,

ROTHEKMERE'S "WARNING-." United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, June 13. "New Zealand will be one of the most vulnerable countries in the world when Japan has beaten China. In the next 10 years the Dominion may find itself in a position of the greatest peril." This warning is given by Viscount R other mere in an article in the "Daily Mail," says the "Sun-Herald" cable service.

The article is strengthened by a map. Three routes from Japan to New Zealand are shown—directly past New Guinea, southerly to Singapore by sea and via Sydney by air. Also indicated 011 the map is the United States naval station of Guam.

"New Zealand," Lord Rotherinere adds, "is a very tempting bait, as its area and climate are very suitable for Japanese settlement 011 a large scale.

"The Dominion may in 1930 spend per cent of the national revenue on defence, while Britain's expenditure in that direction will be 40 per cent of the revenue.

"New Zealand, therefore," he asserts, "supports the argument that a parliamentary democracy cannot arm. This is a terrible conclusion, because even if it is only partly true, it means that parliamentary democratic countries have no future." " MR. SAVAGE'S RETORT. "MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. 11l a speech to Public Works Department employees at Otaki, the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, recounted how he had been telephoned to by a representative of an overseas newspaper and invited to reply to Lord Bothermere's article. "I said New Zealand's defence was in a better position to-day than it had ever been/' said Mr Savage, "and wo are going on to do still more. If Lord Rothcrmere would mind his own business and allow us to mind ours he would be doing a service to himself, to New ! Zealand and to Britain."

TRADE OUTLOOK. JAPS. SEEK NO MONOPOLY. TOKYO, June 13 The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. T. Kawai, said it ivas wrong for foreigners to suppose Japan .intended to monopolise economic and commercial interests in China. She lmd- no intention of depriving the British, of their markets in China. Owing to the abnormal situation, even the.Japanese themselves were encountering trading difficulties.