WORLD AFFAIRS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4326, 10 August 1937, Page 3

WORLD AFFAIRS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THINGS THAT MATTER. WAR CLOUDS IN THE EAST. While Japan is making as touch noise as possible to cover her immediate activities and future plans in China, one relevant fact does not seem to get the publicity it deserves. The political situation in Japan has a very direct bearing on her activities in China. When things become too involved at home the only way for a strong party or leader to distract attention and save his face is to involve his- people in a war—for preference a popular one —abroad, and what could be more popular with the Japanese at the moment than annexing more territory ? THE ARMY IN POWER.

Last February General S'enjuro Hayashi became Premier of Japan, with the full backing of the Army. On assuming office he made an eloquent appeal to the Army Council. “Japan stands at the parting of the ways,’’ he said. “The country is between Fascism and constitutional government.’’ He appealed to the Council to save Japan from disaster. Both Russian and Chinese diplomats became perturbed when they learned that Hayashi’s government would follow an assertive policy in Asia and have semi-Fascist national control. Looking back into Eussian affairs for a moment, at the Moscow trials some 'months ago Karl Eadek, in his closing speech, predicted war within a few months. His words are remembered both in Russia and the East to-day. PREPARING POE WAR.

Meanwhile in Japan war preparation work lias been speeded up. The important question of food supplies is not being- overlooked, and experts are even investigating the possible nutrative value of “inedible” wild flowers, weeds, the heads, bones, fins and internal organs of fish, as well as peelings and leaves and stems of garden vegetables Such a diet may not be very encouraging to fight on, but the Japanese are taking no risks of being starved into submission as Germany was when she followed a similar policy in the West twenty years ago.

JAPAN’S ULTIMATE AIMS. Japan, avc learn, does not appear to want very much—at the Inoment. Merely the removal of Chinese troops from her path to facilitate future action no doubt, and a fe.Av apparently unimportant guarantees and apologies from the harassed Chinese.

What Japan Avants ultimately, and Avhat she is determined to get, Avas made clear by a book called “The Menace of Japan,” by Professor O’Conroy, published in 193-1. The author, avlio had spent a large part of his life in Japan, teaching, and at the same time studying its people and ways, says: I

NEW ZEALAND INCLUDED-. “The idea is vast. First Manchukuo” (which is already in Japan'sbands) “next ’China” (which s-he has been doing her utmost to control for years), “India, Australia, including tew Zealand, and Russia. Japan will not at once declare war, but she will slowly advance. Gradually she will assume control of China. .

“I accuse Japan of working at top speed towards war.” Japan will not go to war if she can get what she wants, without fighting for it, but if the -Chinese do not bow to her demands it is likely that all the persuasion the Western Powers can bring to bear will net deter her.