WAR CLOUDS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 December 1924, Page 5

WAR CLOUDS

OK" THE FAR HORIZON. ANGLO-AMERICAN ALLIANCE. FEARED BY JAPAN. [On the far horizon of ifftematiohal politics there are indications that the Pacific will be the storm centre of the next war. Japan views with mistrust any AngloAmerican alliance, and the following cablegram, which is more or less official, and not the emanation of the jingoistic press, is not encouraging.] BT CABLE— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT _ Received Dec 5, 9.30 a.m * TOKIO, Dec. 4. A . telfegram from Kobe says that officials of the Navy Office to-day said that. Japan resisted the proposal of liiniting auxiliary vessels agreed to at the Washington Conference, and is determined to oppose any similar proposal at any future conference, because liffr geographical and strategical position does not allow it. Osake Mainichi broadcasted this statement throughout the. islands, creating interest among the public. There is speculation regarding the next step. The United States navy officials declared that the only proposal for the limitation of auxiliaries they would enwould be one fixing a minimum number for each nation. They do not believe the United States will propose another Naval Armament Limitation Conference aimed at auxiliary craft because opinion in Japan is that such move would threaten to disturb the peace of the Pacific.

;'A correspondent touring Japan observed that the sentiment of the people was that such a conference would be cohsidered a move to strengthen Britain and the United States at the expense_of; Japan. The Japanese believe that England and America will shortly discuss their naval strength and the matter of auxiliary craft. Those behbvmg m the bogey of an Anglo-Saxon offensive alliance claim that the imPbnahstic tendencies of Britain and the United States endanger Japan, who is therefore in need of auxiliary craft. Ihere is undoubtedly public as well as official sentiment'against any limitation conference.