JAPAN'S “NATIONAL EXPANSION”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 March 1936, Page 6

JAPAN'S “NATIONAL EXPANSION”

A FEW days ago there was a from Tokio, which said: “ -

It is revealed that the (Japanese) . Navy’s recommendations . . . include' that Japan’s development should not depend solely on Asia, but national expansion should advance southwards. This, however, would, .be entirely peacefully, avoiding forcible measures.. If a map of the Pacific Ocean is,consulted, it will be seen that the expansion of Japan southwards would involve Queensland and Ne’v Zealand. Yesterday there was printed a cablegram from Berlin which said:

Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda . . . declared that England

grabbed colonies while Germany was m the throes of the Thirty fears’ War. If a man like Hitler had arisen in Germany in 16111, the Germanswould have been masters of the world, and have owned the great colonies at present owned by Britain. It is futile to speculate upon “might-have-beens.'’ When the German Minister complains that “England grabbed colonies while Germany was in the throes of the Thirty Years’ War,” he is hardly speaking correctly. British colonisation of North America extended over a wide period, beginning in the early part of the 17th century and extending into the Victorian era; indeed, it has not ceased to-day. Of course the German Minister’s object was to belittle Britain's and to show what the Germans would have done if they had had the chance. As a matter of fact they had the chance, but they were not sufficiently awake to know it. To-day the opportunity to appropriate empty lands overseas, and populate them, has gone by; and it is not possible for the Germans to copy the example of the British,-even though Hitler rules them. There is something, however, which possibly may be done in regard to certain of Germany’s lost colonies. True, Mr Thomas, Britain’s Colonial Minister,. re-1 cently declared that there was no question of returning her lost colonies to Germany and that undoubtedly is true as'regards the territories which were captured by Japan,' Australia,- and New Zealand. South Africa will not agree' to return the territory which was German South-West Africa. Britain might be persuaded to return part, if not the whole, of Tanganyika, a vast country, for which she does not seem to have very great-use. . But no such transfer of territory could be effected without the approval aud consent of the League , of Nations, in which Tanganyika was. vested by its . captors, through the influence and . ■advice of President Woodrow Wilson, ‘ who represented the United States at the - Versailles Conference. It is true that Japan has defied the League with, impunity. She has declared that in no case will she surrender the .Caroline, Marshall, and Ladrone groups of islands, which she captured from Germany. They form convenient stepping-stones .Yin Japan's advance southwards. Hence the proposals of the Japanese Government, inferred to above, which in plain English means that simultaneously with its policy of conquest on the mainland of Asia, the Japanese Emperor, of whom the Japanese Government is but the instrument, apparently proposes to extend his Empire southwards, which, to be

effective, could only be made at the expense of either Australia or New Zealand, or of both of them. It is not to be supposed that there is any necessity for immediate alarm, but it is fortunate that the Singapore base is being completed, and already, is a potent factor ill the scheme of Empire defence. Plainly it will be necessary for the Austral Dominions to consider what steps they should take in view of possible complications resulting from the policies enunciated at Tokio and Berlin. Australia’s intention to put her defences in order was announced yesterday. Fortunately there is a fairly wide gulf between the policies of land-hungry nations and their fulfilment. In to-day’s cables M. Hirota is reported as expressing Japan’s desire lo cultivate the friendship of Britain, tho United States and Russia, “thus fulfilling our great mission to stabilise East Asia.” Nevertheless, Australia and New Zealand will be wise to look ahead and make preparations—especially in the shape of adequate aerial defence—to meet possible developments, not to-day or tomorrow, but perhaps when Britain is again involved in one of those European complications, which British statesmen would be wise to avoid as much as possible.