JAPAN'S NAVAL ALOOFNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 8

JAPAN'S NAVAL ALOOFNESS

Japan's withdrawal from the Naval Conference is not unexpected; it is none the less to be regretted. Although the conference continues, the possibility of useful achievement is greatly reduced. Those inclined to console themselves with the thought that Japan's interests lie in the Pacific and are mainly concerned with national security there have need to recall important facts: in this ocean other national interests are also placed and tend to increase ; the policy of Japan in Eastern Asia is bound to encounter some measure of opposition from nations of the Old World and the New, as recent history proves ; in the event of any considerable international conflict the naval forces of Japan would be involved in the background of all naval policies of other nations Japanese policy _ will exercise _ a strong influence, if not a decisive one; and if Japan decides to expand her navy without reference to others they will more than ever be under necessity to develop their units by way of precaution. Japan's geographical isolation is no longer real, and her political aloofness as now asserted adds to the risk of a dangerous clash of purposes. Safer for all would it be if she remained in the circle of naval collaboration. These considerations destroy the value for peace of the Japanese assurances accompanying the intimation of withdrawal. It should be remembered that, while in Japan there is a strong body of opinion favouring peace, both the army and the navy, in their high commands, are able to bring influential pressure to bear upon the Government. They have done so in recent experience, and this breach at the conference is doubtless an outcome of such pressure, with the object of securing freedom in naval development. Japan, her spokesman says, will not start a naval race, but he confesses a national uneasiness because of the programme of the United States. In these matters it is difficult to say who starts.