The MANAWATU DAILY Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1936. World Fear of Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 6

The MANAWATU DAILY Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1936. World Fear of Japan

Frankly, New Zealand lies within the danger zone of a mighty conflagration and our country lies defenceless. The Government that has passed showed small appreciation of the danger of our position. It is desperately necessary more so than ever that before those now in power should take steps to strengthen the defences of this country.

There is a possibility that the Philippine Islands may, within a few years, ask to be admitted to the British Empire. The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the U.S.A. in 1899 following the Spanisii-Auierican Yvar, wherein “the young colossus of the West," smashed the last vestiges of Spain’s former greatness. The territory comprises 114.000 square miles, a little larger than New Zealand, anti has a population of over 18,000,000 people, principally of Malay blood.

Just a year ago, the Philippines Independence Pill was passed, creating the Philippine Republic which is to come inio being at the end of a ten-year period. When that preparatory period has passed, the United States will have no sovereign interest whatsoever in the territory. All over the world peoples are striving to gain independence. The Filipinos have had no struggle, as the United States freely gave them their independence.

A people so fortunate should be very happy, one would expect, Out they find the prospect utterly alarming. They do not doubt their ability to govern themselves, but they do doubt whether their independence would be long maintained. “Japan’s arms stretch out a dark shadow across the Philippines, embracing the entire Orient,” so says a famous American newspaper publisher. Pic says further, that the alarmed Filipinos will ask the United States to make permanent the present protectorate. “If this fails, business leaders plan to seek territorial status under the British ilag. ” Was ever a greater tribute paid to the British Empire'/

As Europe feared the Germany of 1914, so do the nations with Pacific interests fear the Japan of 1930. Holland fears for the Dutch East Indies; France fears for Cochin-China, Cambodia and Tonkin; Siam fears for her independence, as the Philippines fear for theirs of the future. China wonders how much more of her territory the “Japanese tiger” will gobble up. In the far north of Australia, the settlers say that they feel uneasy at the prospect of a Japanese invasion.