THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1934. “HANDS OFF CHINA”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22246, 26 April 1934, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY , APRIL 26, 1934. “HANDS OFF CHINA”

Answering questions in the House of Commons respecting the policy of Japan with reference to China, the Foreign Minister studiously avoided any very definite comment. The statement of the past few days on behalf of the Japanese Foreign Office appeared to have been inspired, he remarked, by apprehension of certain dangers that might affect the relations between China and Japan. None of these dangers, he added, was to be apprehended ,'ron any policy of the British Government, which aimed, indeed, at avoiding them. This might seem to imply that Great Britain is not affected by anything contained in the announcement of Japan’s policy in regard to China, though this has been deemed of sufficient importance to warrant the sending by the British Foreign Office-of a friendly communication to the Japanese Government clarifying, as Sir John Simon has put it, the position of the British Government. Doubtless more information could have been afforded to the House of Commons if it had been deemed expedient to furnish it. If there is any clarifying, or explaining to be done the onus lies on the Japanese Government. For, if the statement issued with its authority means anything, it can only be regarded as a warning to other Powers and to the League of Nations that Japan looks to them to leave China alone, and to refrain from extending, to her any financial, commercial or economic assistance. The warning would seem to apply to Great Britain as well as to any other country. The utterance of Mr Yokoyama, Japanese representative at Geneva, tends to strengthen the view that, Japan is seeking to establish a new situation in the Far East. The Geneva correspondent of the Manchester Guardian interprets Japan’s latest move as a frontal attack upon the League of Nations. Japan has quarrelled with the League, which, it is to be remembered, is committed to the conclusion that “the final requisite for a satisfactory solution is temporary international co-operation in the internal reconstruction of China.” Whether or not there is a connection between the pronouncement of Japan, with its plain suggestion of “ Hands off China,” and the fact that the Chinese Government has determined to establish an air force, which fact is said to be promoting keen competition among representatives of various nations for orders for planes, docs not appear to be a very material consideration. The spokesman for the Foreign Office at Tokio has been inspired to issue a second statement, slightly qualifying or varying the terms of the original announcement, but what the Japanese liaison officer at Geneva has said has merely served to convey to (he foreign correspondents there the general impression that Japan has created a difficult if not grave situation, since site is confidently asking the League and the great Powers to capitulate once more and give her a free hand to make China a Japanese Protectorate. Reading between the lines of (ho Japanese statement suggests a special desire to prevent China from receiving any external assistance in strengthening herself as a nation. The talk of the danger of disturbance of the peace in the Far East'is open to (he interpretation that Japan is disposed to brook no rivalry there. But, as the Manchester Guardian has observed, if China needs and requests foreign assistance, in the exercise of her normal national rights, Japan cannot impose a caveat otherwise than by herself acting against China. The Nanking Government’s reception of the intimation of the Japanese Government’s attitude is certainly not expressive of gratitude for Japan’s solicitude in China’s interests. The United Stales Government, as usual, has been cautiously withholding its views on the question that has been raised, hut State Department officials

are said to be pleased with the attitude which the British Government has taken up, and to anticipate that the two countries will be able to act, if need be, in perfect accord for the protection of their interests in the Far East. What is obviously desirable at the present time is that Japan’s policy should be more clearly set forth, in order that all its implications may be made apparent. Thus far all that is definitely understood is that Japan has proclaimed that the rendering of assistance by other Powers to enterprise in China, a country of which she herself recognises tiie independence, will be regarded by her as an unfriendly act. To Powers that have considerable interests in China this cannot but be a matter of concern.