BRITISH POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1933, Page 8

BRITISH POLICY

SUSPICIONS AROUSED. REPRISALS THREATENED. London, April 26. The derangement of the normal Japanese trade balance, owing to the depreciated yen, says the Tokio correspondent of the Times, is obscured by fears that Britain desires to jienalise Japan for her Geneva policy. It-is feared, also, that Britain seeks to exploit the Ottawa agreements in the interests of Lancashire. The Japanese threaten to take reprisals against Australian wool and Indian cotton. This attitude, adds the correspondent, appears to be largely bluster, owing to the manufacturers’ dismay at losing the Indian trade. Officials prefer to await the result of the Government’s negotiations before the IndoJapanese agreement lapses. It is learned that the Foreign Office requested the Japanese' Ambassador to call in connection with the delicate situation caused by the export of cheap Japanese goods to various parts of the Empire. Further discussions have been arranged. It is difficult, however, to see what can be done. The textile interests continue to press the Government, but the AngloJapanese trade treaty ties Britain. Moreover, Britain is powerless in view of the Japanese workers’ acceptance of penurious wages.

Sir F. 'O. Lindley, British Ambassador to Japan, will discuss the problem when he arrives on leave shortly. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has had further discussions with Mr. S. M. Bruce, who had forwarded the papers to Australia.

The keenness of Japanese firms to explore new avenues of reciprocal trade was mentioned in Auckland recently by Mr. Yutaka Nakajima, representative of large general trading concerns in Tokio, Osaka and Kobe, who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara on a business visit. The demand for wool in Japan was increasing, Mr. Nakajima said, and increased buying in New Zealand would be the result. On the other hand, Japan needed further outlets for her manufactured goods. “Japan did not want war with China,” Mr. Nakajima 1 said. “However, China is in the position of having virtually no nationality and Japanese interests in Manchuria were menaced by troops and brigands who were without the law. China could not keep the country in order and Japan had to step in to protect her ovm interests. The war has not affected trade to any marked extent.”