PROBLEM IN FAR EAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21129, 11 March 1932, Page 12

PROBLEM IN FAR EAST.

CONTRIBUTING INCIDENTS.

ADDRESS BY MR. W. T. AIREY

An address on incidents contributing to the dispute in the Far East was given bv Mr. W. T. Airev, lecturer in history at (lie Auckland University Collpge, before members of the. Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon yesterday in the Reception Hall of Milne and t'hoyce, Limited. The president, Mr. A. M. Seaman, presided. The. guests included Mr. T. Lodge, representative of Great Britain on the British Phosphate Commission; Mr. A. F. Fllis, representative of New Zealand on the commission; Mr. A. B. Roberton, consul in Auckland for Japan ; Mr. W. C ocker, president of the Auckland branch of the ]nst;tute of Pacific Relations; Captain I>. Bauer, Netherlands vice-consul in New Zealand; and Mr. E. C. Cut ten S.M. Mr. Airev dealt with points leading to the friction in Manchuria, and stated that the region represented a considerable portion of what was involved in the present serious dispute between Japan and China. One of the most crucial features, he said, was the 21 demands presented by Japan to China. It was now contended that the Chinese Government which was considering tiie demands was rcallv not representative of China. Opposing statements were encountered throughout the dispute. An extremely important question was railway construction in Manchuria, where Japan had eagerly contested what appeared to be rival communications. The railways were of great strategic, as well as economic, importance. Nut many people had expected tho dispute to assume its present dimensions.