WHAT JAPAN WANTS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 1

WHAT JAPAN WANTS

Object to Control Jehol Province. NEUTRAL ZONE PLAN. United Press Assn.—By Electria Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 13. “ The Times ” says that the statement issued by the War Office leaves little dpubt that Japan’s object is to obtain control of the Province of Jehol, of which the master can overawe the northern region of China proper politically. Its valtje is enhanced by the large revenue from opium. The Japanese authorities are cotv \inced that the grist for the antiJapanese agitation in the three eastern provinces is largely supplied from Jehol, and that their pacification is impossible while the Governor of Jehol is uncontrolled and unfriendly. The main Japanese proposal is that Shanhai-kuan should be regarded henceforth as a neutral zone. The plan has much to recommend it and affords proof of Japan's conciliatory spirit at Shanhai-kuan. A slight response by General Chang to the Japanese proposals might have, established tranquillity The key point of the matter is the profound concern of all the Powers that if fighting spreads south to the Great Wall they could hardly remain inactive any longer.