INTERNATIONAL NOTES

Grey River Argus, 28 August 1937, Page 9

INTERNATIONAL NOTES

CHINESE WAR CABINET.

COMMUNISTS INCLUDED.

NATIONAL WAR OF LIBERATION COMMENCES.

(Contributed by “Left Wing.”)

A National Chinese War Cabinet has been formed in order to defeat the Japanese invaders who have already launched murderous attacks on Shanghai as well as bombing the Chinese capital city of Nanking. The Chinese army is putting up a stiff resistance, and the Japanese, at the time of writing, are hard pressed. It is particularly significant that the Chinese air fighters have more than held their own in battles with the Jap invaders. After long years of non-resistance, the Chinese people are determined to resist. The Communist Party of China led the fight for unity of the Chinese people. Following previous unsuccessful attempts, it issued an appeal in August of last year to the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, or National Party. This was finally accepted, and the latest development is the formation of a National War Cabinet with Communist representation. The expulsion of the Japanese oppressors is the first pre-requisite of any social or political development in China. For months it has been known (but, of course, carefully kept out ■ f the capitalist press) that Japan was preparing for a new offensive against China. This has now started, but she has found that a new China has been born—a China that will defend itself to the last gasp. All success to China’s war for freedom. OPPOSES VON LUCKNER’S LANDING, AUCKLAND TRADES (The following letter was received from Mr H. Campbell, Secretary of the Auckland Trades Council.—Editor) :— The Auckland Trades Council of the Federation of Labour at its last meeting received a communication from the Movement Against War and Fascism concerning the forthcoming visit of Count Felix Von Luckner to this country, and the following resolution was carried: — “That this Council condemns Von Luckner as a self-declared agent of Hitler and.a social order mat has destroyed legal trade unionism in Germany, tortured and beheaded leading trade unionists, and reduced the living standards of the German workers to starvation level. That affiliations be circularised that we are prepared to co-operate with other organisations to oppose his landing and requesting them to assist and forward protest resolutions to the Government.”

“FREEDOM” IN HITLER GERMANY GAOL FOR LISTENING-IN. Beilin, Aug. 13.—Five men and one woman were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment at Bremen for list-ening-in to broadcasts from Moscow. Yet Von Luckner, the Nazi agent, states: “None but criminals in Germany have been deprived of their liberty, in order that decent Germans may live.”

WAR IN THE FAR EAST. There seems little doubt that China is at last determined to stop Japanese aggression. It seems even more certain that Japan is determined to increase her aggression to the extent of robbing the Central Government of its last shreds o£ authority in North China and of tightening her hold on the whole of the country. In these circumstances it seems that a bloody and prolonged war is inevitable. , , . One thing can stop this catastrophe. China is a member of the League ot Nations and has a right to the tion afforded by the Covenant of the League. There is little doubt that were the Covenant invoked to the full in favour of China that Japan would decide discretion to be the better part of valour. (Japan, of course, has withdrawn from the League, but this need not affect the application). If the report of the formation of a National War Cabinet, with communist representation, is correct, no Power exists able to finally subjugate China. ~ T How much less chance would Japan have if Britain, the Soviet Union, France, and about 50 other States were to declare against her. It is perfectly obvious that even the warmad and profits-mad militarists of Japan would refrain from further aggression. Peace would be saved. There is reason to believe that the U.S.A, would add its weight to such an effort to save peace. But will this step be taken? Will the Covenant be invoked? Not >f the Government of Great Britain and those Governments under her domination can help it. The example of Spain shows the depth of treachery to P which the British ruling class will

bl lt’is true that Japan threatens the interests of British and other foreign capital by her aggressive policy n China But even more threatening to British capital (in the belief of the ruling capitalists) is the prospect of a unified and victorious China. the whole policy of Britain and ofi every capitalist Power has oeen directed to ward keeping China divided. The in terhal wars which have taken place in China have only been made possible by foreign finance. Spheres o influence, concessions and the deliberate promotion of disunity have been aimed 1 at by the foreign capitalists. a, The same situation that exists m Furone exists in the Far East. The Fascist Powers of Europe threaten British capitalist interests, yet the London Government aids and abets them because it feels that this is less dangerous in the long run than the development of a democratic people » nl Under n these circumstances, it remains to the working class movement to force the Government on to the. side of peace and democracy. Mr Nash’s words must be taken very seriously. The aggressor must be made the loser if war is not to envelop the whole world. Collective security alone, at the present juncture can save peace for the world, and the pressure of the peace-minded toiling people alone can force the genuine adoption of this policy. The Federation of Labour, the N.Z. Labour Party, the Communist Party, every organisation which stands for

the welfare of the toiling people must take up the task of combating the war in the Far East. For once again we must insist that if Japanese aggression is not cheeked in this instance the Southern Pacific —Australia and New Zealand —will eventually suffer.

War in any one country to-day threatens to involve the whole world eventually if unchecked. The Covenant of the League must be invoked against Japan. Aggressors must be made the losers. PACIFIC PACT OF NON-AGGRES-SION. UNDERSTANDING FOR PEACE.

JAPANESE IMPERIALISTS IN STRONG OPPOSITION.

(By R. Dixon, in “Workers’ Weekly.”) “Australia would greatly welcome a regional understanding and pact of non-aggression by the countries of the Pacific, conceived in a spirit of the principles of the League. Towards the achievement of such a pact we are prepared to collaborate with all other people of the Pacific in a spirit of understanding and sympathy.’Such was the important proposal advanced by the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Lyons, at the Empire Conference in London.

The desire of the Australian Government, and also the New Zealand Government, for a Pacific Pact can.be understood only when seen in relation to the menacing role of Japanese imperialism in the Pacific. For some time now there has been taking shape the so-called southern policy of the military clique, the aim of which is to subordinate the whole of the Pacific area to the domination of Japan. A chain of naval and air bases is being established in the Caroline Marianne and Marshall Islands, which were held under League of Nations mandate by Japan and which the military Fascist clique refused to relinquish on the expiry of Japan’s membership of the League in 1935. £60,000,000 are being expended on the construction of new warships, the details of which have been kept secret.

OPERATING RANGE OF JAPANESE NAVY INCREASED.

It has been suggested on good authority, however, that the new cruisers will exceed in tonnage and in the calibre of guns the largest British cruisers. This would extend the operating range of the Japanese navy considerably and bring the Australian coast well within its scope. Meanwhile Japanese pearling fleets operating in the Arafura Sea have provided the naval authorities of Japan with more complete charts of the northern Australian waters than arg held by the Australian Government. To these facts must be added the recent military alliance entered into between Japan and Germany which is directed first and foremost against the Soviet Union, but which also menaces the peoples of the Pacific. If in the West the German Fascists estimate that in the event of their waging war their victory depends, very largely, upon Japan striking simultaneously in the East, the Japanese militarists openly declare that the preoccupation of the Western Powers in a European war will be the moment for them to advance their policy in the East —in Siberia, China and the Southern Pacific. KEEN INTEREST.

Hence the reasons for the Australian Government, which hitherto has been content to accept the foreign policy of the British Government, almost without question, suddenly displaying a keen interest in the course of British policy in Europe and the Far East, and in relation to the League of Nations. From the above it is clear that a pact of non-aggression in the Pacific has very far-reaching implications. It would nullify the provisions of the Nazi-Jap. alliance against the Soviet Union and by depriving German Fascism of its Eastern ally create firm foundations for peace in Europe as well as in the East. It would put an end to Japanese aggression in China and bring security to the peoples of Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific countries. COLD RECEPTION IN TOKIO AND BERLIN.

In view of this it is not surpiising that the Australian proposals were received coldly in Berlin and Tokio. In Japanese circles the question was raised, what is to be the scope of the pact? Is it to be a Japanese, United States and British Empire agreement or is it suggested that the Soviet Union and China be included? The Australian representatives replied that the pact must include Soviet Russia, China, Japan, the United States and France,” as well as the British Empire. No enthusiasm was evident amongst official circles in London for the Australian plan either. It was described as having little more than ‘ academic interest and received scant consideration both by the press and by the Foreign Office, which is aiming at an agreement with Nazi Germany. SOVIET GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS AUSTRALIA.

Only the Soviet Government, which earlier demonstrated its desire for agreement in the Pacific when it sought a non-aggression pact with Japan, came out strongly in support of the Australian plan and its attitude was suppressed by the whole of the reactionary press in Britain. Commenting on the proposal, Izzvestia” declared: — “The conclusion of a regional plan would answer the interests not only of all countries in the Pacific, each pf which is at present threatened by danger, but also the interests of England, France, Holland and America as well as the Soviet Union, which is solely interested in peace and finally the interests of the Spanish PGUP I6 - . T, •« “Collective security in the Pacific would play a tremendous, and maybe decisive, role for securing peace in Europe and for preventing the terrible slaughter which Fascist aggressors are preparing for mankind.”

COMMUNIST LEAD FOR NONAGGRESSION PACT. The Communist Parties of Australia and New Zealand have been campaigning for many months for a Pacific Pact of non-aggression. The realisation of such a pact, however, depends not so much on the attitude of the smaller Powers as upon the support of the great powers. And, as “Izvestia” declared, despite the hostility of Japan. , „ . “The pact can be conducted if it is actively supported by the big Powers if the Powers display desire and

readiness to establish the collective system, and if Japan is confronted with the choice of participation in this regional agreement or of complete isolation.” That is the point. Until the peoples of Britain, the United States and France force their Governments to take steps to establish a real system of peace in the Pacific, based on collective security, the Menace of aggression and war will persist, threatening the people of the Pacific and the whole world.