The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1936. GERMANY AND JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1936. GERMANY AND JAPAN

’’p.Hliim is a general belief that an alliance exists between G?vmany and Japan. In some quarters it is believed that there is an actual treaty signed between these two Powers. The possibility of such a treaty being in existence is a strong one; despite the statement in the eables that in influential quarters this view is not held. Neither Japan nor Germany are members oi the League of Nations, so there is no moral obligation resting upon them to inform the rest of the world that they have entered into treaty obligations. Further, there is every reason for believing that it such a treaty exists the contracting parties would be concerned not to divulge any of its details. Such a treaty would not be an insurance treaty, but an offensive one. Nations do not advertise that they are planning to commit burglarly any more than do individuals. The grounds for believing that Germany and Japan have some sort of bargain are not numerous, but they are cogent. In the first place it is difficult for the Russians to ignore the fact, that the number of Japanese in Berlin during the last few years has been many more than ordinary circumstances merit, it is but natural to conclude, therefore, that the presence of the extra number implies that something extraordinary is afoot. This is reinforced by the fact that both Germany and Japan are adopting a truculent attitude towards Russia herself. Japanese soldiers seem to be continually engaged in "frontier incidents’ on the Mongolian border, while the speeches of German statesmen are full of impolitic and impolite remarks concerning the present regime in Russia. Germany certainly has not done anything to allay the irritation between herself and Russia, but on the other hand has shown a truculence whenever events in the l-'ar East engage Russian attention. The Russian Government can hardly be expected to refrain from doing a little arithmetic and come to the conclusion that ihe various incidents are but factors of one whole. It is quite true that Germany is in a less favourable position to exploit any likely treaty than is Japan. Germany is too close to possible aggressors for Russia, France, Czechoslovakia and Austria may range themselves in alliance against Germany. Should they do so, then the assistance ’which Japan i-ould render Germany would only be in the nature of extending her own sphere of influence in the Far East. Such action she is likely to take at any time that Europe is engaged in an international embroglio, and she does not need to be bound in treaty relations with Germany to engage in such an operation. Japanese relations with Germany can never be regarded as satisfactory from the viewpoint of Germany, seeing that the Shantung was taken from German possession by the Japanese and held on to very tenaciously by the latter. Some restitution will therefore be looked for by the Teuton, and he will be unwilling to offer himself as the catspaw to draw chestnuts out of the fire for Japan. Nevertheless, the strength of Russia is a menace to both of these two ambitious Powers, and they are drawn to each other by a strange fascination born of a mutual antipathy towards Russia and of a mutual desire to despoil her.