JAPAN GOES HER WAY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 22 (Supplement)

JAPAN GOES HER WAY

WORDS OF PEACE; DEEDS OF WAR. GOVERNMENT HAS NO CONTROL. Only history will be able to judge the meaning of the remarkable events in Japan in these times, for they are bewildering to the simple mind. Her words are peace and her deeds are war, says the Children’s newspaper. One. day the Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, declared the peace policy of his Government, to the world; the next day the papers were printing the news of a new attack on China.

The truth is that the Japanese Government has no control over its Army, and that the world must allow for this in accepting the proposals of peace made by Japan’s Ministers. , The speech of Mr. Hirota had in it these passages:— We do not intend to launch out on any expansion of our armaments, which Is far from out thoughts. On the contrary, we look forward to the conclusion of another pact to supersede the Washington Treaty.

We desire a new and equitable agreement which will embody the principles of non-aggresslon and non-menace and effect an actual and sweeping reduction of armaments, and advance thereby the cause of world peace.

In other places Japan has made it plain that she will agree to reduction if she is released from any obligation to have a smaller navy than others. As for America, Mr. Hirota says that war with her is unimaginable. As to us, he sees no cause to prevent good understanding and co-operation. He also made friendly references to Russia, and suggested that Soviet military works oh the Manchurian frontier were needless. Next he turned to China:—

I fervently hope not only that China will soon recover her stability but that she will awake to a realisation of the whole situation of Eastern _ Asia and undertake to meet the genuine aspirations of' our country. In view of our position as China’s neighbour and the stabilising force in Eastern Asia, it is our policy to try to assist China in the attainment of this goal. . After emphasising what is true, that Japan has poor natural resources and must push her foreign trade, Mr. Hirota referred to her withdrawal from the League of Nations, which became effective on March 27 last. “Ours will be a greater burden of responsibility, he said, “but the road for Japan to take has long been chosen.”

“Goldy-Locks,” Pungarehu: Thank you for your piece of poetry and riddles. The competition picture arrived too, and is now put away safely with the others. Those thrushes that Baby Margaret used watch have not been coming lately, but -nme little sparrows come every day now to be fed.

Jack Coleman, Ngaere: Billikins thinks you must have great fun romping withthose three little pups. We have a dog at the Hut, called Bouncer, but he is in disgrace to-day for he came up on to Cookie’s clean verandah and left dirty, muddy paw marks there. Cookie was very angry with him. “Pink Rose,” Ngaere: Tinker Bell has just been writing your pen-name into her book, Dorothy. It is fun to have a pen-name as well as your proper name, don’t you think? Thank you for the riddles that we found at the end of your letter.

Albion Reid, Hawera: We are glad you have come to join the Wendy Hut, little new Tink, for the Hut folk feel they have half known you already since the last painting competition. Yes; you may have “Buster” for your pen-name. Betty Harrop, Pihama: It is a pretty little picture that you have painted for us, Betty. Baby Margaret is going to keep it for her scrap book. Her scrapbook is filling up quite quickly now, and she has all sorts of pretty pictures in it. Rex Harrop, Pihama: The Hut folk are wondering what you have been doing to your garden lately, Rex. Have you planted your spring bulbs yet, they want to know. A few of the violets in Tinker Bell’s garden are in bud now so she has been weeding them this morning.

“Sporty,” Awatuna: We have put your name into our pen-friends’ comer, Ronnie, so we hope a letter will soon arrive for you. Have you noticed that we have given you the pen-name you asked for? We are hoping you will use it often now.

“Good Luck,” Te Kiri: The “Thank-you Song” is a'nice one, isn’t it, Tink? Baby Margaret wants to learn it off by heart. E the days are fine at Easter she wants to spend some of them working in her garden for she has noticed a number of weeds there lately. Eileen Bowie, Auroa: The Hut folk have all had to race inside for a sudden shower of rain has come, so now they are all here together to welcome you, Eileen. Oh, what a big welcome it is! “Fairy Gipsy,” Oaonui: Baby Margaret likes the name you have given your doll, Tink. She is wondering if you still make clothes for it. Now that the days are becoming shorter and the Hut folk cannot play outside after tea Baby Margaret spends more time playing with her dolls.

“Easter Lily,” Okato: ’lt was good of you to send us that piece of poetry, Tink. We shall keep it for our page. Yes; we are always pleased when stories and riddles are sent to us too, and then if they are suitable we have them for our page.

David Whitehead, Okato: The Hut folk are waving to you and are calling out their welcome, little new Tink. They are wondering what school you go to and if you like it, wherever you go. Are you going to write and tell them next week?

“Bubbles,” Midhirst: Are you fond of reciting, Tink? Baby Margaret is, and she sometimes has concerts for her dolls and recites little pieces to them then. We like the piece you have sent us this time.

Audrey Cassidy, Awatuna: Postie brought us a fine big bundle of letters this week and we were very glad when we found that there was another one from you amongst them all. Thank you for the two pretty pieces of poetry. “Princess Primrose,” Bell Block: You must have been working- hard, at your sewing and knitting, Tink. You ought to have the cardigan ready in plenty of f - f ir the winter, I should think. Baby Margaret is learning to knit now. “April Lily,” New Plymouth: I wonder if you have ever tried walking on stilts, Tink. The Hut folk have had great fun this week on a pair that have been lent to them, and Billikins now can keep on them for ever so long. It is such fun! “Lilac,” Mt. Messenger: Hut Gardener says he is afraid he cannot tell you the name of that little flower for it was rather squashed when it arrived. It just might be some kind of salvia, he says, but he is not sure.

“Fairy Feet,” Mt. Messenger: Oh, Tink, the Hut folk are glad that you have been able to pick those fruit, but they are disappointed about their not being very nice. Perhaps they will be better after you have kept them for a time.