The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, MAY 18,1933. A GIGANTIC PROBLEM FOR GENEVA.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11947, 18 May 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, MAY 18,1933. A GIGANTIC PROBLEM FOR GENEVA.

There appears to be more wiclcspread distrust amongst the nations to-day than at any other time since the Great War. International statesmen would have their hands full if tlio only matter that required their attention was the Ear Eastern situation. But, as it so happens, mischief seems to be brewing in several other directions. As far as the Far East is concerned, it . is plain that Japan by investing Chinese territory below- the Great Wall, has gonemuch further than was outlined in her original plan to bring China to her knees. In some quarters, it is now believed that Japan and Mancliukuo have entered into a bargain under which the former is to. assist the new State to extend its boundaries south of the Great Wall: Other observers claim tluit Japan is in league with Chinese recalcitrants who desire to se 0 Northern China converted into an independent State similar to sfanchulitio and affiliated with it. Then, again, it is •rumoured that Japan has promised Pu Yi, now the nominal, head of Mancliukuo that he will regain the throne of his forefathers at Peiping! The •■general opinion, must now be that Japan has all along had a much nio'rb fUGreaehing plan than she liar, over disclosed to the other nations interested in China. It ,is.

indeed, hot iiiiprobilblb tliilfc japan believes that the nation which she has most to fear is thee. United States. Colour is at any rale lent to this contention by Japan’s decision to bold immense naval manoeuvres in August in the vicinity of ■ tile tropical islands in the pacific over which she holds mandates, in this connection, the plausible explanation is offered by Japan that the reason for the selection of this spot as the. venue of the manoeuvres is merely to gain an estimate of the worth of the islands in. the. role of her farthest ramparts What, is, however, plainly aimed at is to settle the,, point whether Japanese naval forces based on these islands would bo able to cub off United States vessels operating in the East! Meantime, all Europe continues to be agitated ever the unsaffi.sfadtory outlook in connection with the Disarmament Conference. On the surface, the main problem would appear to he Germany’s right to re-arm. There is hound to he a tremendous battle at the conference on tins important matter and it;, need nob occasion surprise if Franco throws amongst the delegates a bombshell in the shape of the dossier in ■ her possession respecting Germany’s secret endeavours to build up immense fresh land forces. If France remains suspicious, the conference cannot possibly have the significant results which are the main objective. The dispute between Franco and Germany over the extent to which Germany should be permitted to re-arm will,, of course, Occasion discussion on a far more important matter —the necessity for either nation to expend so much on. all forms of armaments. It is, of course, common knowledge that some of the Continental nations are far from .satisfied with the position in regard to the postwar frontiers. On the one side are ranged Germany, Italy and, in some measure, Austria and Hungary and on the other Boland, Czecho-,Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia and Uoumaiiiu, "'Ah Franco at their back. To be fair to Germany it must be admitted that, she should not be called upon to shoulder the whole of the blame in connection with the unrest in Europe. The deliberations at Geneva xvili. sooner or later, reveal that perhaps an even greater factor is France's plan to sain security vitb the help of Poland and the Lulkan nations, if the Great Powers refuse t 0 guarantee her safety from aggression on Germany's part. Success e,r failure in regard to disarmament will, assuredly, rest on the restoration of harmony between the two European groups to which reference ha.s been made.