"WIDE AWAKE."

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2685, 30 June 1923, Page 5

"WIDE AWAKE."

JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

MUCH TRAVELLED VISITOR'S WARNING. DOMINION A PARADISE. An interesting' visitor t'o Palmerston North is Mr. F. C. Allen, representing a big American firm, who is paying a flying visit to the Dominion. Mr. Allen has the rare distinction of having- been in 95 out of the 100 principal cities in the world, and some of his reminiscences, as related to a " Manawat'u Times" reporter last evening, were, exceptionally interesting and entertaining-. Mr. Allen possesses a wide knowledge of the East, and knows China and Japan, as New Zealanders know their own country. He asserted that j the next big war is going t'o be in the Pacific. The Jap is a wide-awak» fellow, and it, was up to the young nations of the Pacific to keep an Intelligent eye upon his doings. Mr. Allen had been in Yokohama, Nagasaki, Tokio and other principal portions of the newly-born, yet ancient Japanese Empire, and he prophesied that possibly in our generation, but most certainly in the next, the meat troubles that would affect the worIG would have their origin in the Imper* ial aspirations of the Japanese fof national extension, and possibly for world dominion. In view of the significance of the present Singapore Naval base question, it was interesting- to note that Japan had not diminished the personnel or tonnage of her Navy. On the contrary, an Imperial and militaristic spirit was gradually being evolved by the present party in power, which, in the near future, would have an ultimate issue in Japan challenging- the world for dominion of the southern Pacific. " Th!» r she will do, and there is no question of if whatsoever." " PEACEFUL PENETRATION." Mr. Allen went further. The Japanese pursued a policy of so-called peaceful penetration of Manchuria and China. This was, however, but a euphemistic turn for the forcible application of Japanese arms and trade to these countries, and Japan was the octopus of the Eastern Pacific and it behoved every Australian and New Zealander with a sense of what was due his country, to realise that in the near future there was an Eastern menace to confront. M«, Allen said that this was an unpleasant subject for him to discuss, but as it was his firm conviction as a man knowing the East intimately, he desired to sound this note of warning to the people of this young Dominion. "A MARVELLOUS COUNTRY." Mr. Allen said, in reference to New Zealand, that he had had the unique experience of having been round the world seven times and of having oeen in every portion of the globe, except New Zealand, till six months ago. His primary impressions—and lasting ones to quote his own words—were that the people of this country did not know or realise to an appreciable extent what- a marvellous country they were privileged to inhabit. It had been aptly described as God's own country. The New Zealander himself was the most, courteous, polite and obliging gentleman that a citizen of the world could be privileged to meet'He could only refer to him in tho highest terms that he could employ. So much did he like the country and its people, that after wandering about, the face of the earth for 17 years, he had after but a couple of monthsstay in the Dominion, cabled to his linn, " Please station me Australasian Officer, with headquarters in New Zealand." Mr. Allen is one of the most interesting personalities that lias visited Palmerston North. <He related incidents of his career that he had experienced in* far away Thibet, the wilds of China, Siberia and on the other side of the ocean in Alaska, and all over America. He also knows Africa intimately. The gem of the lot, he considers to be little New Zealand, which was destined to be the outstanding Dominion of the Empire.