Evevning Post. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1934. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 122, 20 November 1934, Page 8

Evevning Post. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1934. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC

London, Washington, and Tokio have supplied us during the last few days with a large quantity of news on the Far Eastern problem, some of it speculative, most of it authentic, t and none of it good. The speculative part of it is mostly based' on the recent influx of German correspondents into Tokio, "where there were hardly any two years'ago," and the remarks of Mr. Nagai, the, Japanese Ambassador at Berlin, who had just returned on furlough: * Two' years ago the Papen Government. was still in office, though hardly in power, in Germany. Japan had been in possession of Manchuria for more than a year, but had not come to an open, breach with the League of Nations. The rise' of Herr Hitler to power at the beginning of 1933 and to absolute power a few months later, the secession of both Japan and Germany, from the League, and their common quarrel with Soviet Russia have naturally established new bonds of sympathy and ■ interest between the two Powers. In Tokio the recent invasion iof German correspondents is accordingly interpreted as "presaging an important Japanese-Ger-man development, such as German recognition of Manchukuo or of a Japanese-German defensive entente." This interpretation received strong encouragement from Mr. Nagai, who lon his arrival in Berlin had proclaimed the strong sympathy ofi his countrymen with the German revolution, and now was able -to tell them' that a "feeling wss prevalent. inr^e'r^My'^thit^.^a-.^tacit^' under-, standingi'was^lreaify:;int existence betweftn ; i^h^^Q?PjoweTji^ JespeciallyVih, regarflKtag^tuit^ has;.brpug|tfS^>Sov^i:^^fen7jnto' the-'L^ag^vhiiiits^nklogue'in^the1 fe: aW wKchsfii^nn^ng^lth^e;^ hvo; ou^la^awi^t^i^f^ '-' ■ iSimuitMtepraly^^ Saturday broughtSus^anotjier; item: frott'tiie-'sainei place "which' was of far^ greater: importance, arid i one f rom^ashihgtonVpf which the same may be said. -The report, from London r of the same date is only worth mentioning by way of contrast with the first of the other items. While .the Japanese Ambassador in London was entertaining at iuncheon the British {Ministers who have been taking part; in the naval conversations, a Japanese Vice-Admiral was issuing" a conditional declaration of war against the League of Nations and all others who are concerned in the balance of power in the Pacific and in honouring of interrtational obligations and at; the. same ; time informing Britain and the United States in the same peremptory; fasypnS;;;Witlv':.. v vr.eferehceli;^tpv:Athe; Japanese demand for nayali jequality; which;: isV still Sunder:; Limjdofl^th'at'Vthe^c^tis^one" of "takei it v dr^leave " it.?: Japanese\; manners and ; methods have certainly not changed for the better since the militarists took complete charge of the country. What would the world say. and what would his countrymen say, if a British or an American Admiral took to blustering in this fashion? His first attempt would be his last. Yet Vice-Admiral Sankichi Takahashi's threats, which make the ex-Kaiser's ;..v. bombast ?: aboutc-his "mailed fist" and "a friend in shining armour* seem tame jand tactful in comparison,' have doubtless biMtf cheered to the echo by hist peripfe. §<

It was in celebration of his succession to the command of Japan's Combined Battle Flett that the ViceAdmiral makes what seems to be hi* first appearance as a diplomatist, and the brilliance of his debut suggests that he may yet compel General Araki and the best of his successors to look to their laurels. The sorry figure that the unfortunate Marquis Ito cut at Geneva a fortnight ago during his five hours' cross-examina-tion by the Mandates Commission regarding Japan's treatment of the Mandated Islands is probably what had given the Vice-Admiral his cue. At the close of/the proceedings the Italian chairman had suggested that "if Japan wished to* dispel sus-

picion, she should afford free and unrestricted access to the islands." It was for Japan, he said, "to dispose of the allegations made against her conduct." But Vice-Admiral Sankichi Takahashi has a more excellent way. Though Japan's mandates ' over the islands will expire when she leaves the League she will not give them up,

and if the League or anybody else tries to recover the islands they will find the Imperial Navy fully prepared for every eventuality.

And for the benefit of those who are engaged in the discussion of Japan's demand for naval equality, the Vice-Admiral added that the navy would reject all Treaty schemes of fictitious parity such as had been broached in London, and would be satisfied with nothing except full and actual equality.

So* that's that, and in order that there may be no mistake let those whom it concerns note who it is that will reject these fictitious alternatives. It is not the Government or the nation, but the navy, for which this Vice-Admiral purports to speak. The message from Washington which we published on Saturday along with the report of the fireeating speech indicated the inevitable reaction to the obduracy of Japan.

The United States has tinder consideration British overtures for joint action in naval affairs in the event of the tri-party discussions with the Japanese delegates in^ London' ending in failure.

Three weeks ago a virtual deadlock between the American, and Japanese delegates on the principle of equality had been reached. The AngloJapanese negotiations have carried the matter no further. , Is it not time for die British and American authorities to confer with a view to joint action? The imperative need for such action was stated by Lord Lothian, one of the coolest and bestinformed authorities, in the "Observer" article quoted yesterday. He deplores that, like Germany in 1914, Japan in 1934 is being plunged by short-sighted military leaders into the same diplomacy which' ruined Germany and must do as much for Japan. , > * It is absolutely certain, he says,, that the United States and the whole- British Commonwealth must ultimatJy be driven together in resistance to Japanese ,militarism. ... If Britain and-the United States stand together now 1 Japan's militarists will soon decide that they had better come to terms >than incur the opposition of both. The immediate,' difficulty lies, as Lord Lothian says, in the inability of-'Britairi xand;tne United States to take that ' united resolute" , action which would strengthen the moderates in Japan. The action must; of cotirfe, be prompt and calm as well as resolute, and the Dominions which are in equal danger with Britain must take their full share in the common defence.