German-Russian Developments

Pacific Countries Gravely Affected by Latest Japanese- German-Russian Developments U.S. Navy, at Moment, is Actually Sole Protector of British-Pacific Communities

JJURING the month the Pacific Terri tories have come into the limelight of world politics. The limelight comes from two angles—the clear and rapidly growing menace of Japan, and Ger many’s increasing demand for colonial territory.

The developments in connection With Japan have been sensational.

Last month, in an article, we sought to analyse the position. We pointed out that

Japan had denounced the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, withdrawn from the League of Nations, seized Manchukuo and, at the conference in London in January, she had refused to renew the Washington Agree ment (otherwise, the London Naval Agreement of 1930, under which Britain, America and Japan agreed to a limitation in naval building) and insisted on freedom to build more and bigger warships. We showed that Japan’s population of 100,000,- 000 is increasing at the rate of 1,000,000 annually, and that there is a large and increasing section of Japanese public opinion which says that Japan must take and occupy whatever countries in and around the Pacific she considers essential to her national requirements; and we said that we could not expect the pro- British, pro-peace party to remain always in control of Japan’s Government.

Since then, much has happened. A sec tion of the army, led by those “Young Officers” who want Japan to strike and fight for her territorial needs, revolted in Tokio on February 25, and tried to murder the entire Cabinet. Three Ministers were assassinated, others wounded, and the na tion thrown into confusion. The rebel troops were eventually persuaded to re turn to barracks; a kind of scratch Cabi net was assembled after several days to take change of the Government; and the country, at the moment, is quiet. But enough has been seen to show what great and dangerous forces are penned up there; and many things indicate that Japan now is being urged towards a war of aggran dizement. The nation, at the moment, seems bereft of strong leadership, and the control of affairs is drifting steadily into the hands of the aggressive military and naval cliques.

Our newspapers, suddenly, have recog nised the danger; and there has been a hurried conning-over of naval forces in the Pacific. It is disclosed that they are as follow:

It is not a pretty picture. Britain usually keeps two important cruiser squadrons in the Pacific, one based on Singapore and the other on Australia; but both have been denuded of larger vessels, which have joined the British naval con centration in the Mediterranean.

The plain, simple fact of the matter is that Japan has broken away from all treaty and International obligations (except the Kellogg Pact, which is “merely paper”) and is in danger of coming under the control of mili taristic extremists; and, literally, the only protection upon which British-Pacific communities can immediately depend is that powerful American fleet, most of which is concentrated on the Pacific sea hoard of the United States. And there is nothing certain about the American fleet.

We can only hope that America will not permit Japan to disturb the status quo in the Pacific, during this period in which Britain is reviewing her defences, and spending £350,000,000 on armaments.

Capital ships.

Modern heavy cruisers.

Cruiser Squadrons, etc.

Japan . . . 9 12 Full proportion

U.S.A. . . .

. . 15 15 Full proportion Britain . . . — 3 Poor Holland . . — 3 fast modern cruisers

On March 5, it was reported that Britain and U.S.A. had made an agreement at the London Naval Conference, and that Britain soon would transfer considerable naval forces to the Western Pacific. This is unofficial, but probably correct.

Britain does not neglect her obligations.

The fact is that developments in Japan have been rapid and probably unforeseen.

The chances are that moderate forces will resume control in Japan, to maintain amicable relations with Britain and America. But for how long? A clash be tween Russia and Japan seems inevitable: and Heaven alone knows what kind of a Japan will emerge from that!

In this connection, there were two events of significance during the month. The northern provinces of China, it was re ported, were likely to secede and form a protectorate under Japan. The Soviet leader, Stalin, on March 4, announced, however, that if Japan made any move to coerce Mongolia (which seems to have formed some sort of a Soviet government) Russia would take action against Japan.

The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of U.S.A., speaking deliberately from his place in the Senate, warned Japan that America.could not remain in different towards Japan’s efforts to close the door against American trade in China.

A condition of the Washington-London Naval Agreement, from which Japan has withdrawn, was that neither Britain nor U.S.A. should build new naval bases in the north-western Pacific. That gave se curity to Japan. She cannot be attacked from either Singapore or Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) —they are too far away. But. under the new conditions, Britain and America may develop new plans. Britain may do something at Hong Kong; and America is under an obligation to protect the new Philippines republic for ten years.

The Late German Colonies

IN the meantime, the Nazi Government of Germany is carrying on, with growing intensity, a propaganda campaign for what the newspapers call “the return of the German colonies,” but which really is a demand for recognition of Germany’s claim that she must have more territory.

The subject has been under close con sideration in London, where British foreign policy seems to be dominated by a desire to bring the Western European nations together in a coalition for peace. If that can be achieved by making substantial concessions of colonial territory to Ger many British Liberal opinion is in favour of its being done. Sir Samuel Hoare, be fore he was thrown out of the Colonial Secretaryship by the Geneva clique, said that Germany must have access to new sources of raw material; but a few days later (on February 12) the Colonial Sec retary said that “the British Government had not considered giving up any British colony or territory held under mandate.”

The discussion is going on, and becoming

daily more loud and clamorous; and there is little doubt, as I forecast here at least two years ago, that this question will be come a dominating factor in British for eign policy. Up to date, however, we have seen nothing to alter the opinion ex pressed two years ago—namely, that Germany’s demand will be satisfied by a grant of territory in Africa, and that the condition of New Guinea, Western Samoa and the Marshall and Caroline Islands is not likely to be affected. British opinion seems to be definitely moving in the direc tion of Africa; and that, also, is the direc tion of the propaganda being carried on by the Nazis.

A Negro Nation In New Guinea

AMONG this propaganda, I was inter ested to find the plan of Dr. Ulrich Noack, of the University of Frankfurt.

Dr. Noack would give large slices of Africa to Germany and Italy, at the expense of Britain and France, and “in return, Ger many would renounce her claims to all her former colonies.” Part of his plan is the removal from Africa of a large section of the negro race, so that the way may be clear for German colonisation.

But what would be done with the negroes? This will interest New Guinea.

He would take the whole of New Guinea and transform it into “a great negro terri tory” under British rule. Australia would lose her mandate, and be compensated with adjacent South Sea Islands at present belonging to Britain and France —presumably, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands.

To use an Australian colloquialism; That is an idea!

One or two interesting points have emerged from the maze of argument.

Germany pleads that she has not suffi cient raw materials. One reply is that Germany’s stupendous rearmament expen diture has upset her economic balance, creating a shortage of foreign exchange for the purchase of raw materials.

Another reply is that the Germans can not get materials because of the protective tariffs, not only of the colonies, but of the Dominions, England, France, U.S.A., etc., which make it impossible for Italy or Germany to sell the required volume of exports to get the money to pay for re quired imports.

Colonel D. E. Evans, of the Brisbane firm of Evans, Deakin and Co., Ltd., ex pressed the opinion after a visit to Ger many that it would be the best thing that could happen for world peace if Great Britain gave Germany back her colonies.

He thought Germany should have New Guinea, provided that Germany fortified New Guinea and stationed warships there to assist in the defence of Australia.

Comments on the gallant Colonel’s sug gestion, that Australia should depend upon Germany for protection against the East, have been couched in choicest Digger language.

(Continued Overleaf)

Three Overcrowded Nations

THE world most definitely is under the shadow of war threats; and, as has been pointed out here on many occasions, the danger lies in the fact that three na tions (Germany, Japan and Italy) are landless, and are arming with a view to acquiring territory; that two nations (United States and Russia) hold all the land they require within one border, and are indifferent to international develop ments; and that the other nations, especi ally Britain and Prance, hold large and only partly developed territories, scattered all over the world, and therefore are driven to a defensive arming.

And it is as certain as anything can be that, if the nations do not come together lender some arrangement by which the landless countries shall receive new terri tories, we shall have to fight one or other of the landless nations —and, maybe, two or three of them in alliance.