ASPIRATIONS OF JAPAN

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27612, 19 March 1955, Page 8

ASPIRATIONS OF JAPAN

MR WEBB SEES NEED FOR RISE N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, March 17. The High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr T. C. Webb) said today that Australia and New Zealand had no illusiorfs about the possibility of a resurgence of Japanese militarism “But,” he told the Royal Empire Society, “we regard that as less of a risk than stirring up in the breasts cf the Japanese people feelings of revenge and hopelessness that would only throw them into the arms ot communism.” . An insurance policy against that calculated risk had been taken out —the Anzus Pact between Australia. New Zealand and the United States of America. “It is in our interests that Japan should rise and that we should, encourage and assist her to do so,” Mr Webb continued. “Otherwise she presents an easy prey to communism from the mainland.” Mr Webb, speaking of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation, said the best defence against aggression was technical aid. But he warned that the S.E.A.T.O. Powers should be careful lest the very Asian peoples they were seeking to help should be led by misrepresentation to suspect that the real purpose of the new organisation was to suppress national aspirations.