The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY Monday, January 16, 1933. THE MAR CLOUDS IN THE EAST.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11834, 16 January 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY Monday, January 16, 1933. THE MAR CLOUDS IN THE EAST.

'['lie latest, news from the Far East will occasion much deeper thinking on the [(art of the Western nations. It is plain that (lie Japanese plan of campaign in China requires to he much broader than had been anticipated. No longer is it a . matter simply of maintaining order in Manchuria. Seemingly, Japan’s next step is to convert, by force of arms, .Jehol into a buffer zone. In this connection, it is claimed by Japan that such a, step is necessary in' order to preserve peace in Northern China. But it is questionable if Japan’s interests in Manchuria will he sale even if Jeliol can lie turned into :r neutral zone. There is growing evidence that China is rapidly awakening to the need to make great sacrifices in order to drive out the invaders. Japan has fuiinitiated China hot only by taking up the role of protector in Ufahoii'uri’a, hut also by threatening other portions of the Chinese Empire. Tf she continues hoi - drive into iTehpl, the Chinese will have every ground for supposing - that they must

Make the defence of their own territory into their owix hands. To them the League of Nations upon which they have been led to place .so muck Tolinnco will amount only to a. slihm. As matters at present stand, it 'is extremely doubtful if less than strong military assistance will be of any service to China. Clearly, the position is that Japan is working against the clock. If China wore to be given time to mobilise big armies, Japan would find herself in a war which would cost a very great deal i n money oven if tlio cost in lives did riot" also prove immense. Ono of Japan’s Idg problems is-that if she cannot avoid a long struggle, ‘ involving the despatch of largo armies to Chinai she will run the risk of trouble arising ori the part of one of more of the major Western nations. Japan could not succeed, in waging a long and extensive war in China if at the same time her owii shores were menaced by another nation with a strong navy. Plainly, Japan will, he in a helpless position if the armies she sends to China are cut off from their homeland. ft may he the position that threats'of intervention on Ohi--1 na’s behalf will he deferred 'until Japan lias greatly increased her forces in China. The other nations which have interests *n (he East must, of course, come to a definite decision, sooner or later, as to what is to he their altitude in regard to the dispute. Meantime, they are side-stepping the point on account of the fact that the League of Nations’ committee which has been set up to consider the dispute has not. vet finished its deliberations. It is significant that Japan does not evince the slightest interest in what is . taking place with a view to a. peaceful settlement; of the trouble. Her plan of operations has, apparently, king been drawn up and she is going ahead with it as fast as she can. Her givat. hope is, of course, that China will continue to rely on the League, of Nations for redress. The position today is. n’,nqiiestioiiably. very grave, seeing ill at Japan lias reached a point when China can claim that she has had forced war upon _hpr.