JAPAN'S NAVAL POLICY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22318, 4 February 1938, Page 13

JAPAN'S NAVAL POLICY

Objection To Action By Other Powers ARMAMENTS MAY BE INCREASED TO MEET CHANGES fox Use Of Far East Situation As Pretext For Building Programme

(UNITED PRESS ASSOC lATIOS COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 4, 1.20 a.m.) TOKYO, February 3. A Japanese Navy spokesman stated: "If in future we feel that our national defence is endangered if, for instance, very strong military establishments arise near our country or near the Far East, or if there is a big increase in armaments which we regard as menacing our national security—then Japan will be obliged to increase her armaments to cope with that new situation. "Britain and America have the greatest navies. No countries are menacing them. Nevertheless, they have begun big building programmes, which are an incentive to other nations to follow in a building race. "The rumour that we are building 42,000 ton battleships is groundless. It seems that some nations are using the special situation in the Far East as a pretext for naval building programmes. "As has been often emphasised, Japan respects and will continue to respect the rights and interests of other countries in China. She cannot comprehend why other countries should scatter their vessels, or need doublestandard navies. "Particularly, according to various authorities, is the navy ample for defence, so that America cannot feel a menace from other countries. Our naval policy is not one of menace or of aggression. If others trust us—which we hope—then there is no reason why others should increase their navies." The Associated Press understands that the reference to strong military establishments might refer to Hong Kong, Manila, and Alaska, and not to Singapore, as Singapore is not new.

OF SANCTIONS

Chinese Proposal ATTITUDE OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS GENEVA, February 2. China has appealed to the League to apply Article XVII, which would mean automatic sanctions against fepan. Article XVII provides that in a iispute between the League memsers and a non-member, the latter ihould be invited to accept the of membership. Should it decline, it will be subject to Article XVI.

Dr. Wellington Koo, the Chinese declared that the League m both the means and the duty to "H Japanese aggression. The council this morning passed 'resolution which, inter alia, noted *ith regret the intensification of utilities in the Far East. It reeled its own resolution of October H expressing moral support of Lnina, and it expressed confidence ™at member States with special invests in the Far East would lose 110 opportunity of examining, in ™mmpn with other similarly inter**ed Powers, the feasibility of fur- *« steps contributing to a just *«lement of the conflict. Peru and Poland abstained from p°tai« as a protest against the great "Wets in drawing up plans of action Presenting them to the council a cut and dried schemes without "■"suiting the small Powers. Jjt. Koo accepted the resolution, *?ong that he reserved the right to *** further League action. "The gravity of the Far Eastern ration demands the council's •Wption of concrete and energetic he said. "Although the ta«, on shows evidence of a sym™»etic spirit, it is inadequate to "eet the exigencies of the case." EFFECT OF LEAGUE RESOLUTION *K EDEN UNWILLING TO MAKE k& A STATEMENT fflt LONDON, February 2. .The League's resolution on the ™nese situation was mentioned by or «gn Secretary (Mr R. A. thf. i m ans wering a question in J.House of Commons on action IV in the Far East. V orei S n Secretary stated that was nothing in the resolution co-operation between the Powers and others. Howjj£ he was not in a position to j* a statement on the resolution, telanswer to another question, Mr Ik? stated that the British Am58?**° Tokyo had been '"" C*«ea to impress on the Japanthe extreme imH^nce: which the British Governto the maintenance (toJPf°tection of its interests in revenue. (IfrT Japanese Foreign Minister 'Xetk t rota) has S iven an assur " foi»i « due consideration will De to the views of foreign

QUESTIONS TO JAPAN

SIZE OF BATTLESHIPS JOINT ACTION BY BRITAIN AND AMERICA (Received February 3, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 3. Japan is being asked immediately to state definitely whether she intends to build battleships of more than 35,000 tons. This step, says the diplomatic correspondent of the "Daily Mail," was decided on yesterday by the British and American Governments after Mr Herschell Johnson, the United States Charge d'Affaires in London, had seen the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Eden). If Japan prevaricates, or admits that she is building such ships, Great Britain and America will alter their pending programmes accordingly. JAPANESE COMMANDER IN-CHIEF SHOT CHINESE CLAIM (Received February 3, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 3. The Chinese Consulate General in Sydney has issued a statement that General Matsui, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army, was shot twice in the leg and once in the arm after reviewing troops at Hanjao. His condition is serious. His assailant committed suicide immediately after the shooting. JAPAN WILL PAY COMPENSATION CASUALTIES AMONG BRITISH FORCES (Received February 3, 8 p.m.) LONDON, February 3. The Japanese Government has been asked and has agreed to pay £ISOO as compensation for the deaths of British soldiers killed or wounded at Shanghai. This was announced by the Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden) in th«» House of Commons. He added that i the compensation for naval ratings killed and wounded was £ 920.

FORCED MIGRATION TO KOREA TOKYO, February 3. The Foreign Minister (Mr Koki tlirota) announced the I?iet that h G was negotiating with Russia about the forced migration of 300 000 Koreans from Soviet territory to Central Asia.

NEW JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

CAPTURE OF TOWNS CLAIMED RUMOURED PLAN TO INVADE SOUTH CHINA LONDON. February 2. A Japanese offensive along the pfi'thern sect: <-i ..ie T'«.■ <••■>- Pukow railway is now in full blast. Ar.T'jnlan< - nm-- -tillc.-v are battering the Chinese positions. The Chinese destroyed the railway bridge across the Hwairi river, south of Pengpu. Japanese reinforcements are hurrying to the scene from Suc'how. All communications have been suspended. ' The Japanese have announced tiv.capture of Fengyan :, 16 miles from Pengpu. They have also taken Linhaikwan. a strategically important town, and Laiyang". The Domei Nev . Agency states that the Japar~~e captured Pengpu after heavy Chinese losses. Japan controls more than half of the southern section ol the TientsinPulwW railway. The next objeptivc will be Suchow Junction. The Hong Kong correspondent of "The Times" states that rumours hav. aris"en in Canton that the are planning shortly to inv Ie South China, and that they have already nominated two politicians to establish a puppet government, but the J—janese air raids have heightened the -.pirit of the inhabitants, whom the Government - xpects to offer a stiff resistance. Two Japanese destroyers at tempted to pass at the mouth of the C.iton river, but the forts fired. The Japanese, after replying, turned back. ATTEMPTED BOMBING OF JAPANESE SHIP PROTEST MADE TO CANADIAN GOVERNMENT (Received February 9, 8 p.m.) TOKYO, February 2. The Japanese Foreign Office has requested Canada to lake steps to prevent a recurrence of the incident in which an attempt was made to sink the steamer Hiya Maru with a time-bomb in Canadian waters. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE IN NORTH CHINA ONLY FOUR INDUSTRIES TO BE CONTROLI ED (Received February 3, 8.30 p.m.) TOKYO, February 2. The Foreign Minister (Mr Koki Hirota) told the Budget committee that the only business in North China not open to private enterprise would be transport, communications, electricity, and salt manufacture, all of which were being entrusted to special companies. Japan hoped that a rehabilitation organisation would be established for the reopening of all business in Shanghai. Mr Hirota informed the Diet that if. the international situation demanded it Japan would conclude a tripartite anti-Communist pact with Manchukuo and the new Chinese Government aiming primarily to defend China against the threat from the Asiatic continent.