Vital Talks

Going On

Future of Pacific Territories

DISCUSSIONS of the utmost import ance to the future of all Pacific countries and races now are pro ceeding between Great Britain, the United States, Holland, Australia and New Zealand. There are indications that Russia is being consulted, to an increas

ing degree.

Here, briefly stated, are the factors in a situation of great delicacy; The future of the vast territories of Indo china and East Indies, and the French Pacific colonies, is uncertain, so long as Germany holds France and Holland.

It is a fundamental of Japanese policy that Japan shall acquire new territories in Eastern Asia and the Pacific. Any changes in European possessions in East Asia or the Pacific vitally affect Japan.

The aggressive spirit of Japan, displayed towards Britain for three years (and more marked since the collapse of France) and the relationship between Japan and the Axis Powers, have caused great embarrassment to Britain.

Japan’s attack upon China, like her original attack upon Manchuria, has given much offence to American opinion. The present aggressive attitude of Japan towards non-Asiatic powers, and Japan’s apparent preoccupation with Indo-

China and East Indies, are resented by United States.

The probable purpose of the present discussions is to create a combination strong enough to talk to the Japanese in language they will understand.

There is no indication that Britain or U.S.A. are anti-Japanese. They under stand Japan’s cruel problems, both economic and political; and they know there will be no peace in the Pacific un less they help Japan to solve them. But they will not be ordered about by Japanese Nazis, or told what they may, or may not do, in South-east Asia and the Pacific.