JAPANESE OUTPOSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21596, 14 September 1933, Page 9

JAPANESE OUTPOSTS

MANDATED ISLANDS INTENTION TO FORTIFY TOKIO, Sept. 7 The Seiyukai Party's programme, the main feature of which is the strengthening of defence, will be carried out by the new National Government of Japan, which is composed of the Seiyukai and Liberal parties, who hold 90 per cent of the §eats in the Diet. The policy of the Government, according to the Premier (Baron Saito) includes the making of the mandated islands the first line of defence, and adequate provisjpn for further defence, on the expiry of the Washington and London treaties. When Japan left the League of Nations in March, it was suggested that, being no longer abound by the covenant which prohibits fortification of mandated territories, Japan's mandated islands might be armed, and the Government's avowed intention to now make the islands the first line of defence is a reversal of the previously declared policy. , .j When it was suggested that Japan should not retain the mandates after quitting the League, Japan niade it clear that she would not forfeit them, but would not fortify them. The question of finance is all-im-portant. Japan has already spent £2,000,000 on her islands —mandated and otherwise.