JAPAN AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 32, 1 November 1933, Page 4

JAPAN AND WAR

Possibility Discussed NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION A variety of suggestions in the cause of world peace were advanced by speakers at a meeting of the Wellington branch of the League of Nations Union, held in the Friends’ Hall, Moncrieff Street, last evening. The discussion, which In the main was confined to the possibility of Japan’s aggression, followed a paper read by Mr. Edward Boocock, whose views on several issues in which he criticised Japan did not meet with the full approval of his listeners. \ Speakers emphasised that in the interests of world peace peoples should be more friendly-minded and less suspicious, and the idea of Japan wanting New Zealand should be dismissed. It was claimed that climatic conditions here were not suitable to Japanese, and, ■as the Government had not imposed a poll tax on them, the possibilities of their .coming here seemed remote. The alleged unfairness of nations possessing unoccupied territory was a point raised by another speaker, who contended that Japan’s overflow population could be absorbed in other parts, including Northern Australia. That could be done by peaceful negotiation. Mr. Boocock stated that because of certain actions of Japan her word and signature were valueless, and that in future she must be fudged solely by her actions. As a defensive measure he advocated the getting together of the nations around the Pacific, and suggested that the United States, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, China, and possibly the Pacific dependencies of France and the Netherlands, form a strong defensive alliance to resist the encroachments of Japan. Mr. Boocock was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.