WAR IN FAR EAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 19

WAR IN FAR EAST

JAPAN EMBARRASSED GREAT ECONOMIC HANDICAP MUCH ANTI-BRITISH AGITATION FORMER TIMARU MAN'S VIEWS Features of the situation in the Far East were discussed by Mr. "NY. L. Holland, research secretary of the Institute ot Pacific Isolations, of New York, upon liis arrival by the Monterey yesterday. Horn in Timaru, Mr. Holland has been engaged with the institute in America, 'Hawaii and the Far Fast since 1928. He contends that Japan has become embarrassed on account of tho amount of territory slio lias conquered, and,, can give up nono of it for financial reasons without admitting virtual defeat. "It must be realised," said Mr. Holland, "that Japan has not enjoyed tho easy victory she seems to have had. There is n definite doubt whether Japan will even win the war. Because of tremendous economic handicaps, she has been unable to progress far in spite of her amazing military superiority. Japan was greatly disillusioned by tho Chinese resistance, and what was intended—a short, sharp invasion into a slice of the northern province of China—has, because of this resistance, involved the country in a nation-wide war. Serious Situation "The situation is now very serious. The Chinfese may hold the Japanese for a while, but not indefinitely. They are prepared, however, to retire into tho western province, which is practically inaccessible, and from there they will keep up a series of guerilla actions for several years, if necessary. At the moment, China is getting a little foreign support, and with the aid of British, American and Hassian air pilots has been able to do much damage to Japanese communications.

"The Japanese economic situation is in a sorry state," Mr. Holland continued. "It is costing her far beyond her wish in the matter to garrison lnrge areas that were not wanted, but which now have to be retained. Imports have been limited drastically so that only goods for war purposes enter the country. The tragedy of tho thing is that the Japaneso people, who did not want*tho war, were pushed into it by militarist groups aiming to conquer the wholo of Eastern Asia. The people make no secret of the fact that Great Britain, not China, is their enemy. America's Attitude "The amount of anti-British agitation in Japan at present is amazing," said Mr. Holland. "Britain is being denounced as the great obstructor of Japan's imperial destiny. It is also surprising that Japan is more hostile to England than to Soviet Russia. Actually their threat against Communism is for propaganda purposes only."' Speaking of America's attitude toward the war, Mr. Holland said there was much resentment and bitterness against Japan, which had tried unsuccessfully to overcome this feeling, which was strikingly shown in a strong boycott movement without official backing. The present American naval programme was designed with a view to action in the Pacific, and although it was not publicly admitted by President Roosevelt, it was understood that England would join naval forces in tho event of a Japanese attempt to extend activities beyond China into the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies and Malaya. With his wife, who was formerly Miss Doreen McGarry, of Auckland, Mr. Holland is staying at the home of Mrs. W. H. McGarry, Epsom. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Holland, of Timaru, and will spend six weeks in New Zealand before returning to New York.