THE FAR EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 21

THE FAR EAST.

FAMINE IN CHINA. PEKING, February 20. The famine conditions in China are improving, and most of the sufferers are assured against starvation by the grain stocks at the relief station, which the entire famine district can reach ati a crucial period. When spring comes the weakened people will take up work on the land which, however, is heavily mortgaged, and they, will be without farm animals. The winter wheat crops have been generally excellent, and there has been no epidemic, save the usual occasional typhus cases. The relief funds available total 10,000,000 dollars, and it is estimated that 7,000,000 more will be required. UNREST IN MONGOLIA. PEKING, February 21. The Chinese War Ministry is preparing An expedition -against Urga, the religious capital of Mongolia, the forces in which are estimated to be 1500 Russians and 10,000 Mongolians, officered by Japanese. It is reported that the independence of Mongolia has been proclaimed. Twenty thousand cavalry and infantry have' been organised. POLITICAL CRISIS IN JAPAN. TOKIO, February 20. The motion of want of confidence in the Government was defeated in the House of Representatives by 259 to 141. The session is extremely turbulent, police reserves being held both within and without the Diet building. The galleries have been crowded at every sitting, many women being present. Visitors hooted the speakers on both benches and -many arrests were made. Outside popular meetings were held in several parks, all , demanding the immediate resignation of the Government. Opposition speakers in the Diet declared that the Government did not think of the people, but always of maintaining the Ministerial Party. The Government supporters replying, declared that the policy of the ((Government was always justifiable ,although the results were not always satisfactory. KOREAN ADMINISTRATION. TOKIO, February 23. Mr Binohoku, vice-president of the Korean Advisory Council, and advocate m the Japanese Korean Assimilation Council, has been assassinated. It is believed that agitators for Korean independence are responsible for the .murder. DUMPING MANUFACTURES. SYDNEY, February 22. Mr Suttor, the New South Wales agent in the East, reports that prominent bankers and commercial men in Japan are preparing a scheme for dumping manufactures in other countries. As the first 11 months of the past year showed an excess of imports amounted to 370,000,000 yen over exports, the scheme is being carefully considered, with a view to balancing the exports against this excess. The author of the scheme is the governor of the Bank of Japan, who is urging manufacturers, bankers, and exporters to co-operate in stimulating the export trade. VIEWS OF STR JOHN FINDLAY. LONDON, February 24. Sir John Findlay informs the Australian Press Association that his declaration, a summary of which was cabled recently, although published in the form of a signed article, was really an interview, in which he was incorrectly reported. The statement should read that “Australasia would object emphatically to a renewal of the Japanese Treaty accompanied by amendments in the direction of a relaxation of the Australasian immigration laws, which it was rumored was imminent through Japanese pressure on Britain.’’ Sir John Findlay, though he took no steps to correct the previous article, added that when interviewed he discussed the 'fears which were widely entertained m Australia and New Zealand that Japan was attempting to modify the treaty m the direction of providing an ever-widen-ing door for immigration. It would be idle to object to the treaty in its present form, ' under which Japanese immigrants are excluded from Australia. Sir John Findlay said he considered that Australasia did not realise the full extent of the menace from Japan, which, it was authoritatively estimated would have a population of 120,000,000 half a century hence. VIEW OF SIR JAMES ALLEN. LONDON, February 25. Although the Imperial Premiers’ Conference is certain to discuss British relations with Japan, Sir James Allen disagrees with Sir John Findlay that a modification of the treaty is imminent. He does not accept the view that Mr Lloyd George exerted pressure on Mr Massey to attend the Conference in connection with the treaty. Sir James Allen considers that the pressure is merely due to important questions on the agenda paper, including the effects of the League of Ration’s foreign armament schemes upon Imperial defence, regarding which only Mr Massey is able to speak authoritatively on New Zealand’s behalf. Sir James Allen added that New Zealand has no quarrel with or fear of Japan. He regards the treaty as amply safeguarding her good faith.