The Cockpit of Asia.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Cockpit of Asia.

Manchuria as Japan Sees It.

J\PAN, overcrowded and ambitious; * Manchuria, badly governed and rich in natural resources ripe for development; Great Britain-and the United States, eager to preserve the “ OP en Door” pollcv of the League Covenant the KellOfeS PacC and the Nine-Power Treaty by wh en all may co-operate but none dominate, the League of Nations anxious at all costs to avoid conflict between two of Its me ' nb ® r ‘j snch in a nutshell, is the Manchuilan crisis as presented by Colonel P.. T. . Bthertoa and Mr 11. Ilessell Tillman in “ Manchuria, the Cockpit of Asia.” Although Colonel Ethcrton was formerly Consul-General In Chinese Turkestan and Additional Assistant Judge of ILM. Supreme Court for China, the book is mainly sympathetic to Japan. Manchuria, the authors contend, Is vital to her; the day may come when the mineral wealth of the region, the food drawn across the Sea of Japan, and the footing on the mainland of Asia wil mean the difference between her survival ancl extinction as a Great Power. cannot afford to permit International Jealousies, or the moral conscience of nations which already possess abundant territories elsewhere, to rob It of the fruits of a cosily war and a quarter of a century of treasure and labour.

Twenty Yoara of Development. It Is due'to Japanese Initiative and foresight, thev add, that Industrial conditions In Manchuria are to-day In advance of those n China proper. The Chinese population there numbers thirty millions; as late as IJOo there were only 5,000 Japanese in lie area, to-day, the Japanese, Including Koreans, number only 650,000. On the other hand, Japan claims to have sunk investments ag arcjrating two million yen in commercial and Industrial machinery; trade is now nearly fifteen times greater than It was in 190 j, there has been no development, comparable to this, in China proper in the last twenty v ears; Chinese control of Manchuria, In fact, la chaotio and reactionary; the Japanese mean to go ahead, for what is a matter of trading rights to Great Britain or the United States is a vital political principle to Japan, ordained by fate to remain a great Power only so long as there is uninterrupted control over the raw materials she needs. The Premised Land of Asia. Hence the advanoe of tho Japanese troops in September last, the real aim of which, the authors state, was the expuls on of the Nanking-controlled Government at Mukden, the setting up of an independent Government with Japanese advisers, and the clearing of the country for development unhindered by obstructing officials and marauding bandits. China will oppose the loss of three of her richest provinces by every means short of actual war, but in the end she will probably have to agree to a position not very difleronl. from that of 1026. when Marshal Chong-Tso-Lin was virtually independent of the Kuominlang and held sway over Northern Tim authors allow for these alternatives, a Japanese mandate exercised under Iho possible' control nf Hie League of Nations, or ‘he selling up or a Chinese administration imlcpemlenl of Nanking and dependent upon Ihc goodwill of Japan; hut Ihcy conclude Ihal. for good nr ill, ilio future of Manchuria will he fashioned in Tokyo. Ollier nations may insist, upon tho “ Open Door." Susceptibilities may have lo be considered. Camouflage may be employed to conceal uncomfortable facts; but tlw ceßtrai facts will

: League’s Influence.

remain—Manchuria, the Promised Land of Asia, will in the immediate future go forward to a new era of swift development under the guiding hand of Japan, in the interests of the world In general. / The prospect of strenuous opposition by tho Great Powers, the certainty of the relentless march of Japanese policy, will undoubtedly make Manchuria the cockpit of Asia for half a century to come. Japan may use soft words to tiie League; her weapon in Manchuria is her strong right arm. This was evident in the bombing raid on Chinchow which involved heavy damage to property and loss of lile last autumn. The bombs were supplemented by leaflets which apostrophised Chang Hsuehliang as “that most rapacious, wanton, slinking youth," and proceeded:—"The people of Chinchow should submit to the kindness and power of the army of the great Japanese Empire and should oppose and prevent the establishment of Chang Hseuh-llang’s Government, otherwise they will be considered as decidedly Opposing the army of the great Japanese Empire, in which case the army will ruthlessly destroy Chinchow." Subsequently the Japanese Government justified Itself to the Council of the League on the plea that it would have been a breach of duty to leave the Chinchow population a prey to anarchy, adding:—“Therefore, the Japanese forces have, at considerable sacrifice, oxpended much time and energy In securing the safety of persons and property In districts where native authority had become Ineffective. This is a responsibility which was thrust upon them by events, and one whch they had as little desire to assume as to evade.” • •

The Influence of the Loague,

Tho League throughout the crisis has undoubtedly had a most difficult job lo tackle, and it is therefore encouraging to hear the authors’ judgment that it has not been as Ineffective as some people suppose. 'the League machinery, they state, has enabled all nations with interests In the kar East to co-operate to a degree that would otherwise scarcely have been possible. The presence of an influential Commission on the spot must act as a check to Irresponsible action and baseless rumours designed to Justify military aggression. Whatever the terms of the final settlement they will soarcely bo as harsh or sweeping as those which would have been forced upon a defenceless China unable to appeal to the consoienoe of the world. It Is, Indeed, highly probable, thanks to the League and taking all the factors Into acoount, lnoluding the numerous breaches of treaty rights by China In Manchuria before the crisis arose, that China will secure a settlement at least as generous as her own record entitles her to expect, and one that may he more in the interests of Manchuria as tho Promised Land of Asia than an unqualified return of that land to a Chinese Government which is notoriously unablo to maintain within lls territories tho conditions of law and order without which no region, however rich In opportunities, can prosper. By displaying Japaneso policy stripped of lls concealments and pretensions, this book docs help lo simplify the Manchurian problem In a commendablo way. For a stoppress volume containing references to events of less than a month prior to publication. It is remarkably well written, with a terse - ness and direotnoss which are tho virtues of haste, and which wore than off-set Its pßoijtoontlnw, ' •