PACIFIC NAVAL RACE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 7

PACIFIC NAVAL RACE

AMERICAN-JAPANESE POLICIES. A POTENTIAL DANGER. WASHINGTON. April 15. A report on Far Eastern conditions issued to-day by the Foreign Policy Association predicts an end to international naval limitation and the inauguration of a new naval race in the Pacific unless America and Japan modify their policies before the 1936 naval conference. The report points out that Washington policy, as stated by Mr H. L. Stimson, makes the Manchukuo situation and naval ratio, interrelated and interdependent, while Japan contends that they are separate and distinct. It is suggested that America can ease the situation by accepting the situation in Manchuria and granting other concessions, such as allowing Japanese immigration on a quota basis and removing naval bases in the Philippines, otherwise “the Japanese refusal to discuss Manchuria and the insistence of the United States on the inclusion of Manchukuo would almost certainly lead to a complete deadlock. “Theoretically the United States could attempt to challenge Japan’s supremacy in Asia by threatening to expand the navy. The consequences of such a programme, however, would be incalculable. To make the threat effective the United States would be etaoin etaoin etaoi etaoin eta hreat compelled to abrogate the Washington agreements, build a navy at least twice the size of Japan’s, and fortify naval bases in the Pacific. Since Japan would also be forced to expand her navy the result would inevitably be a naval race which would endanger peace in the Pacific.” A TRIPLE DILEMMA. JAPAN, CHINA AND MANCHUKUO. SHANGHAI, April 15. What amounts to an ultimatum has been presented to the Chinese Government through the Japanese Minister to China, Mr Ariyoslii, demanding the prompt restoration of postal and railway facilities between China and Manchukuo, failing which Japan indicates her intention to take measures, through Manchukuo, to effect a resumption of the services. Great importance, therefore, attaches to a discussion now taking pi at Nanchang between Marshal Cliiang KaiShek, Wang Ching-Wei (Minister of Foreign Affairs) and General Huan Fu, If China accedes to the Japanese demands and restores the services it will be tantamount to recognition of the new State. To refuse the request will entail a risk of further Japanese encroachment in North China. OLD CHINESE CUSTOM. JOURNEY BY A GENERAL. Significance is attached to the departure of General Huan Fu, chairman of the Pekin Political Council, for Nanking, via Hankow. _ The official explanation is that Ins journey southward is to visit his native province of Chekiang, in order to “sweep the tombs of his ancestors,” in accordance with an old Chinese custom.