SITUATION FULL OF MENACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19961, 20 November 1934, Page 7

SITUATION FULL OF MENACE

CRISIS IN PACIFIC DISCUSSED STRONG UNITED ACTION ADVOCATED United Press Association—By Electrw Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. November 18. Lord Lothian, in an article in “The Observer,” discussing the crisis in the Pacific, says that the situation is full of menace to everybody, including Japan. She is being led by shortsighted military leaders to abandon the tar-sighted policy which led to the Washington Treaties, and a plunge into the same power diplomacy which brought Germany to catastrophe in 1914, and which must similarly ruin Japan. It is absolutely certain that the United States and the whole British Commonwealth must ultimately be driven together in resistance to Japanese militarism. The root of the immediate difficulty lies in the inability of Britain and the United States to take that united resolute action which would strengthen the moderates in Japan. If Britain and the United States stand together now, Japan's militarists will soon decide that it is better to come to terms than incur the opposition of both. JAPAN'S DEMAND FOR NAVAL EQUALITY SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE TO FAR EAST United Press Association—By Electric T 2l egraph—Copyright LONDON, November 18. The naval correspondent of “The Daily Telegraph” says: “Japanese circles are of opinion that naval conversations have reached the most critical stage. The crucial ratio problem is as far from solution as ever. The Japanese state that Britain and the United States must now realise that our demand for equality to replace the 5-5-3 ratio is not a mere bargaining gambit. Its unqualified acceptance must be one of the first conditions for co-operation in naval disarmament. We have as much moral right as anyone to a first rank navy. The Washington ratios were merely a temporary expedient.” The correspondent adds: “Against the Japanese claim it might be urged that the Japanese Navy is already so strong relatively, that it absolutely controls the Far Eastern waters.” The “Daily Express” says that the Air Ministry has decided to increase the strength of the naval air force abroad, and to concentrate on naval aeroplanes on the South Coast of England. A squadron of powerful fourengined flying battleships is nearing completion, and will be flying in formation to Singapore in December. A new flying-boat squadron is being formed at Pembroke.