AGGRESSIVE JAPAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23435, 25 February 1938, Page 8

AGGRESSIVE JAPAN

MR MILNER’S VIEWS SITUATION FULL OF MENACE (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 24. “ The present Sino-Japanese war is not an isolated phenomenon. It is a link in a long chain of causation. It is an instalment in a long programme of aggression’ which Japan conceives to be necessary in the attainment of her grandiose objective—domination of Asia and the hegemony of the Pacific.” That was the introduction given by Mr F. Milner to his address on the Far Eastern crisis, delivered to the conference of Rotary clubs to-day. Japan would not hesitate to raise the cry of the Bolshevisation of China and summon the help of her sister Fascist States, Mr Milner continued. The present situation was full of menace; that was why President Roosevelt issued his warning to the world, and why Britain celebrated with the fullest degree of publicity the completion of the Singapore base. “Japan has unequivocally declared her sole responsibility for the maintenance of law and order in the Far East, and especially for the guardianship of China. She is fully prepared to vindicate this regional ascendancy by force of arms.” Mr Milner said. “It is certainly not a heartening thought that, whether Japan wins out in China or not, British interests are doomed to go.”