FAR EAST PEACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20106, 13 May 1935, Page 14

FAR EAST PEACE

JAPANESE OFFICER’S VIEWS TOKIO, April 27. Major-General Itagaki, a distinguished Japanese officer, having toured Manchukuo, implies that war fears in the Far East are justified, and that it rests with Russia to banish them. Contradicting peaceful forecasts, Major-General Itagaki said to-day that if Russia wants peace in the Far East she should demilitarise the RussoManchukuo border. Bandit gangs with Communist affiliations, each of an average strength of 200 or 400 men, continue to menace Manchukuo, he said. Whether the future in the Far East would be good or bad for Russia as well as for Japan and for Manchukuo depended upon Russia's attitude. Summing up his impressions MajorGeneral Itagaki said: “The Soviet is not showing any signs of reducing its enormous border military concentration, ill spite of the frequently discussed demilitarisation of the zone. "The Soviet has reinforced its Far Eastern army, and brought it up to date by including a mechanised detachment. The construction work in the vicinity of the Amur River, which is now nearing completion, will mean that transport across Siberia will be greatly facilitated and the capacity increased.”