Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-07-30
SRegional Dry Heads
Selectedb by Sec. Andrews
LACK OF STEEL WHY
JAPS ARE L0ATH To
MAKE WAR GESTURE

Wllllamstown, Mass, July 90
(AP)-Statements that Japan was
unable to make war for lack of steel
and that Poland was unwilling to
reduce her army until better assured
of her safety from aggression were
made by members of the Institute
of Politics today. Foreign Minister
Alexander Skrzynski was Poland's
spokesman. The assertion regarding
Japan was made by Professor
Charles K. Leith of the University
OF Wisconsin. at his round table dis
cussion on mineral resources as a
world factor"
we are all eager to see disarma-
ment brought out" Count Skrzynsli
said, land there is no question that
the next European war will mea n
the end of civilization. But there
are two theories as to disarmament:
one that it comes first and will
prlng peace, the other that security
from war must be assured before
disarmament can come.
Poland once subscribed to the
former theory, in the eighteenth
century, and 1t cost her her inde-
pendence. The Polish army was re-
ouced IN the hope that a pacific pol
ICY would bring peace. Instead,
russia, Russia and Austria saw an
opportunity, jumped on Poland and
heIped themselves to her territory"
Russlan Communists, Count Skrz-
yhshi salo' mad caused an abyss be-
tween her and Poland, and Moscow's
reluctance to enter the league of ma
tlons was another bar to harmony.
Germany too was estranged from
roland because of bitterness over
the loss of upper Silesia by the neace
treaty, but the foreign minister still
hoped for security and peace. His
country was ready to Join with the
great powers in such efforts and
would watch negotiations over the
franco-German security pact with
the greatest interest.
AS regarding the pact. Poland
was represented as adhering CLOSELY
20 the position taken Jointly by Eng
iano and France in insisting that
the agreement provide for the in.
tegrlty of the Polish German from
tler. Count Skrzynski held that
Germany's membership in the league
OF nations was essential to the snc-
cess or the agreement
with the great steel producine
areas OF the world controlled by the
United States, England and France
through the latter's control of the
Ruhr district, this particular "sinew
OF war" was lacking to Japan, Pro-
fessor Leith maintained, nor was
she In position to develop a steel
producing center from the latent ore
In China or the Philippines.
Japan could find coal enough in
emma, which has the second largest
coal reserve in the world but il is
IRON ore that Japan is most lacking
and this is fatal. Since steel plays
such vital part in modern civiliza :
ton, Professor I.eith said, the dearth
of mineral resource in the east re-
moves Japan as a war threat. for
a nation cannot have great war pow
er without great commercial power
Or. ii. #. Balm, former director OF
the United States Bureau of Mines
In Washington, said that between
two and three billion tons of iron
ore were scattered through the Pa
cific area. The largest single depos-
1t being in China, between 300 and
400 million tons, nine-tenths OF
which is in Japanese hands. The
previous speaker had pointed out
that this Chinese ore was of poor
quality and DR.. Balm added that the
prospect for developing an iron and
steel center there was mot encour-
aging"