FEARS SCOUTED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 5

FEARS SCOUTED

AGGRESSION BY JAPAN PACIFIC MENACE DENIED VIEW OF DUTCH OFFICIAL NOT PRACTICAL POLITICS (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. Because Japan*was busily engaged with problems confronting her, in China for instance, and because her administrators were wise enough to know that military or naval adventures against other countries would be contrary to practical politics, war in, the Pacific with Japan as the aggressor was highly unlikely, stated Dr. A. D. A. deKat Angelino, who recently retired from the position of director of the Department of Education and Public Worship in the Dutch East Indies. He arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Dutch motor-ship Maetsuycker from Saigon.

“The idea that Japan is seeking to swallow the, world is ridiculous,” .said Dr. Angelino. “They have so much to contend with, and will have for many years, that I cannot anticipate any trouble of the kind one so frequently reads about. There are so many good reasons why this trouble never should eventuate.” Commercial Viewpoint There was the commercial viewpoint, for instance. Trade relationships had become very friendly within recent years between Japan and the Dutch East Indies.

“In a time of depression when there was- poverty among thousands of natives the Japanese were able to export so cheaply that clothing for native children was ridiculously cheap,” he continued. “I know there is an opinion that some Japanese goods have adversely affected manufacturers in other countries who could not sell their goods at such low figures, but one cannot blind oneself to the fact that the low prices of the goods greatly helped the natives in our archipelago.” Three months ago the two countries bound themselyes to a reciprocal shipping and trade agreement, Dr. Angelino said. In future a certain percentage of goods to and from each country would be carried by Dutch and Japanese ships. It was difficult to think that Japan would jettison this and other profitable agreements or venture outside practical politics for the sake of some doubtful expedition.