The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1920. JAPAN'S ARMAMENT BILL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160736, 24 August 1920, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald (Published Daily.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1920. JAPAN'S ARMAMENT BILL.

In one day’s cables yesterday, there were published several interesting items concerning Japan. And they ; give considerable food for thought. For instance, we read of Japan’s new military budget fori 1920, which exceeds that of last year, and the. message then gave the decidedly information that about half of the total Japanese revenue is now spent iu armaments. This, may not,, probably will not, provjeto be a permanent condition, but even if for,/ only one year it is something to m|ike one pause. What is it for? What is.,intended? Certainly the Japanese do not intend to spend so huge a sum—thef revenue for 1918-19 was about 851 millions sterling, so they must be spending something over 40 millions on armaments—in order to maintain their soldiers in idleness, or to have a fleet doing nothing but manoeuvres. Everyone knows, or at least thinks he knows, the country Japan “has it in for.” But there is no guarantee that, when that quarrel is settled, Japan will lie down and go to sleep. Win it. or losei it, she will look for fresh fields to conquer. The pacifist will argue that it is wrong to say such things, because they are provocative, and that Japan should not be accused beforehand. But—half the revenue on armaments! What do the nations in and around the Pacific think of it? And which will he the next, after the first is (Jealt with? Yet there are some people who deprecate spending money on defence.