FAR EASTERN PROBLEMS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1932, Page 9

FAR EASTERN PROBLEMS

SINO-JAPANESE STRUGGLE? ■ / - LECTURE TO ELTHAM W.E.A. "As a menace to the world’s peace what is happening in Manchuria is far more important than the trouble at Shanghai,” said Mr. J. A. Brailsford, 8.A., tutor-organiser of the W.E.A., during a lecture at Eltham on Monday. “In Manchuria there is a conflict between the interests of Japan and Russia, and if Russia should become involved it would be difficult for any nation to keep out.” Mr. T. B. Crump presided, and introduced Mr. Brailsford. At the conclusion the lecturer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr. Brailsford said It was difficult to obtain from the cable news a propor- • tioned view of the important phases. * It was necessary to keep a close watch on Manchurian happenings rather than on the little battles around Shanghai. As far as the Chinese were resisting effectively, it was more by their powerful boycott of . Japan than by their military activities. Japan’s export trade to China (which had. been worth nearly £40,000,000 in 1928) had been brought almost to a standstill. A boycott .by the League of Nations would not, of itself, affect Japan a great deal, as her exports to Europe in 1928 were only £16,000,000 against £80,000,000 to the United. States. America thus held a commanding position. However, the lecturer believed that precisely because Japan had to face the • danger of an American boycott, as well as Russian hostility, the League of Nations could have checked the Japanese militarists by taking a firm stand and indicating (as Mr. Wickham Steed had suggested) that Japan, by breaking her treaties, was placing herself outside the community of nations. The Japanese army, in its first aggressive moves in Manchuria, had defied its .own Government, which favoured a conciliatory policy. The Government, if it had had ■backing from outside, could, in all probability, have checked the militarists. But the League had shown itself weak, and leading British and French newspapers had supported the Japanese militarists. Mr. Brailsford reviewed the recent events in Manchuria and Shanghai which had brought to a head the long-standing conflict of interests between Japan and China. He also briefly reviewed the story of Manchuria and showed how the various Powers were involved. It was impossible for the people to follow all the intricacies of international problems, but they could not afford to take a helpless, fatalistic attitude in these days when every catastrophe tended to spread over the whole world. Individually, as well as nationally, they must face the issue of peace and war, and it was for the people to choose leaders, not on the appeal of foolish catch-cries, but for the trust that could be placed in ;them to meet the heavy responsibility of working for r justice, friendship and co-operation in world affairs as well as in their own community. '