King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, June 23, 1935. JAPAN'S PLACE IN THE WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4723, 23 July 1935, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, June 23, 1935. JAPAN'S PLACE IN THE WORLD.

The recent staement by the Japanese Foreign Minister that Japan could not remain unconcerned in the event of war between Italy and Abyssinia and the official denial that Japan had given a promise not. to interfere in the event of such a war must be the cause of some anxiety to Signor Mussolini, and of general interest to other countries. It goes to show that Japan is determined to take her place in world affairs, and a very prominent place. In a geographical sense Japan is not interested in Abyssinia but she has certain trade interests which she is evidently determined to safeguardJapan is well satisfied at her increased exports for the last two years, but with the restrictions that are being placed on Japanese imports by other countries her outlook is not so promising. She is therefore jealously watching all her possible overseas markets. Her exports to Abyssinia do not represent a large amount but there are great possibilities in that direction, and Japan would most likely lose all her trade in Abyssinia if Italy gained control of the country. Economically Japan is both prosperous and suffering. While the money value of her exports continue to increase, her imports remain substantially larger than her exports. The industries and the industrial workers are doing fairly well but the farmers are having a desperate time. Japan has incurred enormous expense in establishing her industries, and any contraction of her overseas markets would mean disaster for the whole country. In addition, she has expended enormous sums on armaments on land and sea, and must continue to do / so if she is to hold her position in China and Manchuria. Japan might pull through if she can expand or even maintain her overseas markets. Yet Japan must export or it is only a matter of time before her people will go hungry. She cannot grow enough foodstuffs for her own requirements even with the precent population, and that population is increasing at a greater ratio than in any other country. Just on half a century ago there was a tremendous expansion, of industry in Germany, this being based on a lower standard of living than that obtaining in Great Britain a'nd the United States. At one time it seemed that Germany was on the way to secure the bulk of the world's trade, but slowly and surely the standard of living in the country rose. The result was that the scope of manufactures increased and Germany become-a large importer of raw materials. Japan is now also a large importer of raw materials, but the raising of the standard of living in Japan is a much more difficult task,, and the world may expect vast quantities of cheaply produced goods from that country for many years to come. Still Japan must come to realise that she cannot have an adverse balance of trade indefinitely. There are only two methods by which Japan can balance her overseas trade. One is to curtail her imports, but it would mean a diminution of her exports, for which she must have rawmaterials; the seco'nd is to raise the prices of her exported commodities, which seems to be the only logical thing to do. Even then Japan will be a formidable rival to other industrial countries, for her own industries are highly organised, and her workmen most apt in adopting Western methods. Japa'n's activities are a mystery to other countries. Not a rich country, Japan is maintaining huge naval and military organisations. Her campaigns in Manchuria and China cost many millions of pounds,

and a war with Soviet Russia is more than possible. Whether Japan can keep the pace going is very doubtful, a'nd if she attempts to circumvent Italy in that country's designs on Abyssinia, there will be some interesting and far-reaching developments affecting the whole world.