The Far East.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19463, 31 December 1934, Page 3

The Far East.

Events in the Far East continued to enjoy great prominence in 1934. Chief Interest has, of course, been centred In the manifestations of Japanese foreign policy, and there were occasions when no little concern was created, in international circles by the direction in which Japanese ambitions appeared to be moving. One of the first outstanding features ■of the year was the establishment of the Manchurian Empire and the coronation of Mr Henry Pu Yi as Emperor. Although dire consequences were predicted from this event, which was described by many observers as an excrudescence of Japanese imperialism, the ceremonies on March 1 passed off without a hitch, and with surprisingly little disturbance in the placidity which

was then being enjoyed in the world. The effect of this gesture may be Judged from the .fact that although technically the “Manchurian Empire,” the State, whose independence is as yet only partially recognised, still goes by its earlier name of Manchukuo. The Naval Problem. The approach of the Naval Conference to toe held in London In the New Year drew from Japanese official sources several clear the uncompromising statements of policy which might have been calculated to have an unsettling effect on world opinion. Japan’s ■claims for naval equality with the United States, and, by inference, with Britain, have been pressed with no lack of v’gour. At the present moment the hope of a satisfactory agreement is very slight. Japan has plainly shown her unwillingness to compromise and America is equally non-committal. The year produced a heavy crop of “incidents” in the relations of Japan and the Soviet Union, the most remarkable feature being the fact that they were all met without resort to belligerence. There were numerous instances of violence between individual nationals, accompanied toy a good deal of bickering back and forth between Moscow and Tokyo, tout the general situation became greatly eased during the year.

Japanese Foreign Trade. ■Phenomenal expansion was enjoyed by Japanese exporting industries in 1934. The chief manufactures to share in this prosperity were the silk rayon industries, toilet supplies, and utilities. One quarter in which remarkable expansion was .seen was in Japanese trade with South America. A complication arose from the fact that Japan was selling in those countries considerably more than she bought, and efforts were made to conclude a three-cornered arrangement toy including the United States which bought heavily from South America and sold largo quantities of cotton to Japan. Japan’s trade with India was greatly developed, and the conclusion of a satisfactory agreement with India for the purchase of Indian cotton in exchange for Japanese goods facilitated many difficulties which had arisen. The question of Anglo-Japanese competition. outside India, however, was not so easily settled. Lengthy negotiations in Manchester in the early part of 1934 failed to produce anything in the nature o(f an agreement, and the com-

petition goes on apace. The advantage; however, does not lie t entirely with Japan, despite her price-cutting-China’s Difficulties. The plight of China apparently made little improvement during the year. Too much attention was paid to watching the developments of Japanese iniluence in Manchukuo, and the more pressing problem of internal reconstruction was once' again shelved. Taxes were multiplied- The great silk and tea industries languished further and are now actually dead or declining. China is buying rice, wheat and cotton, all of which she should raise within her own territory. And meanwhile, the Central Government is paying more attention to revising foreign treaties and asserting sovereign rights than to satisfying the pressing needs of China. *