A PROTEST

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 9

A PROTEST

'■O THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir—l should like to pen a few lines in support of your correspondent, R. S. Bower. His letter is most opportune. Indeed. I think it is a serious reflection on the intelligence of our so-called “leaders” of public opinion that such a vital topic does not receive more prominent space in these columns. I think a great many of your readers would be more pleased to read some letters on such a real subject as a Japanese menace, than to read a lot of nonsense about the menace of Communism. After all. the responsibility for adopting the Communistic system lies upon our own shoulders, but the menace of Japan is a subject upon which the people of Australasia will have no option. Indeed. as far as New Zealand is concerned. there will be no discrimination between people who are of different religions or hold divergent political views. It affects every man jack of us - ~ “A Japanese Menace? the scoffer may laugh. The educated person will not.- ? Look at some facts concerning Japan. In 1927, the Japanese Prime Minister, Baron Tanaka, submitted his famous memorandum to the Imperial Throne. It said: “In order to conquer China.- we must first conquer Manchuria and Mongolia. In order to conouer the world, we must first conquer China. If we succeed in conquering China, the est of the Asiatic countries and the South Sea countries will fear us and surrender to us; then the world will realise that Eastern Asia is ours and will not dare to violate our rights.’ It continues: “Having China’s entire resources at our disposal, we shall proceed to conquer India, the Archipelago, Asia Minor, Central Asia, and even Europe. But to get control of Manchuria and Mongolia is the first step, if the Yamati race wishes to distinguish itself in continental Asia.” Japan has already annexed Manchuria, Jehol, and Chahar. Now it is the turn of China “to be saved from the menace of Communism.” In 1936 Japan bought £1,550,000 worth from New Zealand and in return New Zealand bought £1,300,000 worth of goods—a balance in our favour of £255,000. In 1937 Japan bought practically no wool, and this year (1938) she has bought practically nothing, so that the people Who retort to the suggestion of a Japanese boycott with the words “But those people buy our wool,” should revise their opinions. What kind of stuff do we buy from Japan? Just take a stroll through one of the stores and see the great variety of cheap rubbish that is bought because it is cheap. In most cases the cheapest goods are the dearest in f e long run. The pay and standard of living of the Japanese working class are another story, but I should like to conclude with the following: That one of two things will happen—either we shall fall to their standard or they will rise to ours.—Yours, etc., TRUTH. February 2, 1938.