WAR IMPENDING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 1

WAR IMPENDING.

Russo-Japanese Conflict Inevitable. WHAT UNITED STATES THINKS. WASHINGTON, February 7. The fact that President Roosevelt has been discussing the grave situation in the Far East with the Secretary of State (Senator Cordell Hull) is regarded here as indicating that the President believes that war between Japan and Russia is impending. While no announcement has been made of the conclusions reached at these conversations, it is understood that American policy is being framed along lines designed to avoid entanglement in troubles which American diplomatic officials regard as inevitable. Certainly President Roosevelt plans to cultivate friendlier relations -with Japan, particularly through avoidance of such provocative actions as the attempt of Secretary of State -Stimson, in the Hoover Administration, to frustrate Japanese absorption of Manchuria. At the same time the United States will refuse to accede to any treaty or agreement according Japan navy parity with the United States and Britain, instead of 60 per cent for capital ships allowed in the Washington Conference Treaty and 70 per cent for auxiliaries allowed in the London agreement. Growing Rivalry. For several weeks the State Department has been receiving official reports of preparations for war going forward in Japan and Russia, and on the attitude of the Tokio and Moscow Governments, which have convinced officials that these two nations are on the point of resort to trial by combat to settle the quarrels and rivalry between them. In fact, it is the growth of rivalry between the Oriental empire and the Soviets, which is now overshadowing specific quarrels, that strengthens the belief that a Russo-Japanese war cannot be averted. Officials believe that such disputes as that over railroad control in Manchuria have sunk into insignificance as a breeder of war compared with the jostling of each other by two rapidlyexpanding nations, each filled with overwhelming ambitions and confidence in its own physical strength. Specific disputes might be composed, it is pointed out, but national rivalry is as certain to produce war in the Far East as it was in Europe two decades ago. WHAT RUSSIANS FEAR. Japan Expected to Strike in Few Months. LONDON, February 7. The “ News-Chronicle ” publishes a map setting forth Japan’s strategic plan in Manchukuo for a war against Russia, accompanied by a special article in which it. is declared that the Russians have no doubt as to what is going to happen. In the absence of a diplomatic miracle, they are convinced that Japan, in a few months, will strike with full military strength and without a declaration of war against the Soviet in the Far East. Russia, it says, has precise day-to-day information of Japan’s progress in the creation of a great war front and the transformation of Manchukuo into a base of operations. Soviet’s Handicap. For months past, Russia has been strengthening her long thin line of communications and created air bases and supply stations, but their military handicaps have compelled them to seek terms with Japan. In reply, Japan imposes impossible conditions and is acting as if she desired, not a settlement, but a casus belli. Declaring that the Far East was covered with clouds and that a war storm might break there, the War and Navy Minister (M. Voroshiloff), addressing a Communist Party Congress, emphasised, the Moscow correspondent of the Manchester Guardian ” states, the menace of a Japanese attack and the Soviet’s readiness, to oppose it.