FEAR OF JAPAN

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12016, 19 December 1924, Page 5

FEAR OF JAPAN

WHITE RAGES OF THE PACIFIC SHOULD UNITE URG£NT NEED OF MUTUAL DEFENSIVE POLICY MR COOUDGE ASKED TO CALL CONFERENCE ‘‘JAPAN’S OPEN PREPARATION FOR WAR” President Coolidge is to be asked to call a conference of >the white nations of the Pacific for the purpose -of forming a definite.defensive policy against Japan. Mr F. A. Britten, a prominent member of the Republican Party, who makes the request, refers, to “Japan’s open preparation, for war.” . No • white nation bordering the Pacific should ever be compelled to meet Japan in war (without the support of the others, declared Mr Britten. He proposes that the conference he held somewhere away, from Washington, perhaps in Australia.

Australian and N.Z. Cable ’Areoolation. (Reoeivod December 18, 9.60 p.m.) WASHINGTON; December 18. Mr F. A. Britten, a member of tho Naval Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, at & pnblic dinner, announced that he: Would today introduce a resolution in the House requesting President Ooolidge to-call a conference of representatives of all the white races in the Pacific. .The dinner was given by the Pacific Coast Chambers of Commerce in honour of, Congressmen - from Oregon} Washington,, and California. v( . Mr Britten said: “Japan’s-open-pre-paration for. war is the reason the people surrounding .the - Paciflo -should have a definite -defensive policy for their mutual protection, and -the quicker that is done the better. Australia has al-ready-indickted her desiro-to -participate in any movement which might he- organised for her future proteotion and (benefit, and it might be well to call this conference, either in Australia- or Canada, or even at Honolulu, in order to take it away from the political machinations of the city of Washington. - “Influential Japanese 'newspapers have recently objected ? to - the manoeuvres of the United States Navy. in the vicinity of Hawaii, Australia, or the -Philippines, notwithstanding the fact

that the Japanese Navy is manoeuvring constantly in waters many miles east and south of Japanese territory.

U A conference should he called for the purpose of promoting the solidarity of the white peoples of the Pacific. It should discuss not only ways and means of promoting a better economic* commercial, ana political understanding between the said nations, hut naturally to give serious consideration to the national defence of each country. The fact that »the white people© had agreed to support each other in the event of an emergency should have the greatest psychological effect upon Japan, and would probably do more gooa than the (P)t expenditure of millions of dollars/ I.Believe the world will agree that r no single English-speaking or even white nation bordering the Pacific should ever be compelled to meet Japan in war without tho support of all"the other white nations bordering the Pacific.”' .Mr Britten added that if America did not call such a conference he hoped Australia or British Columbia would.

_ “The attitude of Japan, before the League of Nations, and, in "Japan itself, the opposition to_ certain cherished principles of have provided suffipent justification for the introduction of my resolution in the House,declared Mr Britten,