EMPIRE AND WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 5

EMPIRE AND WAR.

POSITION OF KING. A KNOTTY PROBLEM. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. I TORONTO, Sept. 14. “Can the King be at war and at peace at the same time?” was one of the questions debated at the British Commonwealth Relations Conference. Some of the delegates took the view that the completely self-governing nations of the Empire really had resolved themselves into six separate independent kingdoms with a common Sovereign and that the King’s act's as King of Canada need have no relation to his acts as King, of the United Kingdom or of Australia. Another group contended that there was ground for holding that no part of the Empire could enter into a war without it being recommended to the King by the Ministers of all the different Governments. This view, if adopted' would make unnecessary the consideration of the possibility of one part of the Empire remaining neutral while another was at war. There was general agreement among the delegates that consultation and co-operation are desirable in the Empire’s internal relations. This consultation should be directed toward the preservation of peace to a greater extent than to talk of war. The conference referred the matter to a committee of lawyers for a report. ’

JAPANESE FEARS.

VIRTUAL ISOLATION. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CRISIS. United Press Assn. —Klpc. Tel Copyright. KOBE, Sept. 15. The Japanese Minister of War, General Araki, In an address at a meeting of the War Council said: “Japan faces crisis at home and abroad. Our withdrawal from the League of Nations reduces us to virtual Isolation, and the fact that the withdrawal synchronises with the forthcoming Washington Conference increases our dangers. “China is nursing a grudge against us. At present she is submissive, but she is awaiting her opportunity. “In the meanwhile the friendship between China and America is increasing to an alarming extent.-‘Ame-rican influences are securing communnications and aviation rights. “The Soviet is menacing us with increasing border forces, and is concentrating 300 aeroplanes in Vladivostok and many hig bombers.’’ Reverting to America, General Araki remarked upon the transfer of the United States Fleet to the Pacific, and said that in case hostilities broke out Russia could be expected to be an enemy.