A JAPANESE BLOCKADE?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23355, 25 May 1939, Page 10

A JAPANESE BLOCKADE?

Japan's apparent eagerness to i institute a blockade of the China ! coast may create a situation neccs--1 sitating serious practical attention | by Powers likely to be affected. In itself this eagerness is not surprising. It follows restrictive Japanese measures applied to the Yangtse, these being declared essential "owing to military necessities," a convenient phrase employed to cover much embarrassment of foreign shipping. It will be remembered that several unpleasant happenings were directly associated with those measures, and that Japanese apologies for "accidents" almost added insult to injury. The present ultimatum to foreign shipping goes, however, much further in purpose as well as extent: shipping circles in Hongkong have good reason to be amazed. That the ultimatum is seriously meant has proof in the holding, up of a P. and 0. boat 50 miles from Hongkong, the intervention of a British destroyer being necessary to effect her release. It may be conceded that, on the plea of military necessity, even a blockade of the China coast might be justified—providing Japan had formally declared war upon all China, not merely upon an obnoxious Chinese Government accused of non-representative designs on Japan's domestic political peace, and providing also that due notice had been served upon foreign Powers. As things are, the action of the Shanghai Japanese authorities, in declaring that any vessel on the China coast is liable to seizure unless carrying a Japanese naval permit, is extremely highhanded. It remains to be seen whether, by official statement from Tokio, this action is nationally endorsed. If it be, there will be clearly raised the whole question of Japan's. purpose in invading China and her consequent title to belligerent rights* v