The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1933. IS MANCHURIA WORTH FIGHTING OVER?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11826, 6 January 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1933. IS MANCHURIA WORTH FIGHTING OVER?

It is quite pliiia that Japan does not intend to lie hindered in connection, tvitil her policy to reduce tdo new State of Munchukno to the status of a Japanese protectorate. The chief protest-ant against Japan's anibitions in that direction has, oi course, been the United States. Now that the (Democrats have gained power in the great republic, it is certain, however, that the. United States will not. attempt actively to intervene alone at any rate against .Japan. Tbi s much may be gauged from a pre-election statement by tho Presi-dent-elect. ‘‘A successful war a bolt b Manchuria," Mr. Roosevelt said, "would require a fleet as good as that of England, plus an. army a good as that, of Germany.'’ What he meant to convey ivas, clearly, that even the whole of America's forces would be overtaxed in any endeavour to make Japan release her grip on, Manchuria. Japan is. naturally, delighted on. account of Ihe overthrow of Mr. Hoover and his party. Ifc now 1 confidently anticipates that the r e will soon he repudiation of the Republican attitude in regard to Manchuria. which has given Japan most cause for apprehension. According to the Japanese press, the Democrats are likely to prefer to develop American trade with Japan in accord with their tariff policy of lower walls and co-operation in the rehabilitation of general international trade. A\ 7 hat is expected to influence the Democrats as regards wliat attitude should be adopted by the United States in respect of Manchuria is a strong feeling that a war over Manchuria, would not be worth to the United States anything like wlmt. it would cost. Maybe, ft is not generally known that, to-day. United States trade with Japan Is twice as valuable as that with China and that her investments in Japan are three times as great. What is hoped in the United States i is that something may turn up to cool the. ardour of the Japanese 'military hot-heads who lead the movement for what amounts to the '‘conquest” of Manchuria. It may, of course,, he the ease' that nothing short of the threat of a very

prolonged and over-costly campaign in Manchuria.'against the so-called Cliinoso "rebels” will have the offset of bringing Japan to ;t realisation, of the contention that it would ho very much hotter to fall into lino with the scheme propounded'by the Lytton Commission. The now American Government, is, seemingly, not likely to place ah embargo on the export of munitions to China, If. therefore, China can' nchiev© a greater mr-nsure of national unity, Japan’s task will not ho .ended when she lias subdued the Chinese malcontents within Manchuria. "What is not at all unlikely is that, before that singe has boon reached, Japan, may have to counter repeated efforts on the part of Chinese regular forces to overcome her invasion of the new State. Unhappily, intervention on the part of the League, of Nations was far too belated. As is well-known, the Lyhton Commission did not get its report compiled until after the new State of Mnnchnkuo had been established and Japan had accorded It official recognition. What has .also induced Western nations not to intervene actively in the interests of China is the (act that Japan has not threatened to close the open door for trade ns far ns Manchuria is concerned. It may, he taken for granted that, sooner or later, the question of the rights of Western nations to trade with Manchuria, will become a burning question. Japan will find that the subjugation of Manchuria will prove a very costly business and, in order to recompense herself, she may insist upon heavy Customs taxation upon Western goods entering Manchuria ami upon the Mnuchuknn Government paying over a large portion of the levies to tier.