DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES

Southland Times, Issue 22813, 12 February 1936, Page 7

DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES

COST OF WORLD PEACE INTERNATIONAL SCHEME SUGGESTED JAPANESE ENVY OF EUROPE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, February 10. The Tokio correspondent of The Times says that the Foreign Office spokesman, referring appreciatively to the British House of Commons debate of February 5, and other signs, said that Western statesmen had begun seriously to discuss “a more equitable distribution of the world’s resources.” The spokesman pointed out that the movement was still inchoate and that it might take a century to achieve practical results wihch, however, were more likely to preserve peace than a balance of power or the League of Nations.

The spokesman divided the nations into the following categories:—

(1) Those which had enough and were content. (2) Those possessing resources but lacking the vitality to develop them. (3) Those possessing the vitality but lacking the resources.

In this last category he included Japan. He did not indicate whether the vital nations should develop resources for the backward ones, and added that the nations should work out a scheme. He admitted that Japan had no difficulty in obtaining raw materials, but claimed that access to certain markets was obstructed. The newspapers, supporting a redistribution of territories, show envy of Europe’s tropical empires. Germany’s Problem.

Simultaneously there is widespread editorial discussion regarding Germany’s colonial problem. It is agreed that Germany cannot be satisfied with a mere share of raw materials, but it is a matter of honour that she regains her colonies. General Goering’s organ, the National Zeitung says: Germany does not ask Britain to cede any of her Crown Colonies or to grant benevolent permission for access to raw materials, but Germany expects a just solution of the so-called mandatory problem which others want to avoid by proposing different solutions.” Meanwhile, in view of the fact that the London Naval Conference is wrestling with the difficult principle that capital ships are not to exceed 35,000 tons and 14-inch guns (though Viscount Monsell, First Lord of the Admiralty, indicated that Britain is willing to come as low as 22,000 tons and 11inch guns) it is interesting that a message from Berlin quotes Weyers authoratative naval handbook as disclosing for the first time that Germany’s two 26.000-ton battleships mount nine 11inch guns, whereas a greater calibre had been expected. The handbook also reveals that Germany’s two 10,000 tenners are armed with eight 8-inch guns. Details are not given of the 10 “surprise” ships armed with two 4-inch guns. ________