“ASIATIC EMPIRE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 927, 23 November 1933, Page 8

“ASIATIC EMPIRE.”

Economic Penetration by Japan. TRAVELLERS VIEW. (Special to the “ Star.”) MELBOURNE, November 14 Mr John V. Rittenhouse, an American world-tourist, told an interesting story to-day of Japanese economicpenetration in the Dutch East Indies and adjacent countries, particularly Malaya. Borneo and Siam. He believes that this is all part of an imperial objective, which Japan hopes to attain in the future. “ Everyone knows of the Japanese home campaign for the mass-production of cheap textiles and other goods, to be sold abroad at prices lower than those of any other nation," he said, “ but in all these countries their retail organisation is extraordinary. Every village in Java and Sumatra, every tiny hamlet there, as well as in Borneo and British Malaya, has its small store, which is Japanese owned, for the sale of cheap goods of all kinds. “ My conviction is that this economic penetration is merely a preparation for the ultimate military occupation of these countries, together w-ith Siam and any other mainland country which the Japanese hope to bring in to their future Asiatic Empire. " This impression is general in the Far East, but how soon it will be before the Japanese think they are ready to try their strength is difficult to say. Personally, I think it will be some time yet, and whether it "will involve Australia, and when, also remain to be seen. A lot depends on the completion of the Singapore base.

“ The white man has had things alt his own wa]J so far, but if we wish to compete witn Asiatics in the future we shall have to be prepared for a much more frugal and less luxurious standard.” _____