Evening star., 1933-10-29
|ENGL|SH CRUISER
OFF TO FAR EAST
Tension Between Britain and
Japan Grows With Leav-
ing of Ship.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
The sending of a British minelayer-
cruiser to the Far East has brought to
the surface the growing tension which
has existed for some months between
the British Empire and Japan.
While the antagonism against Great
Britain in Japan has not reached the
proportion Of that which exists against
growing anti British feeling more for
economic than political reasons.
The japanese have been making in
roads In the British cotton trade in
India. which has forced the British to
take steps to protect their trade. These
measures have created a resentment
In Japan which has almost reached the
height of the anti-American feeling
during the Manchurian crisis.
While developments in Europe, and
especially at Geneva, have somewhat
obscured this quarrel, the British gov
ernment, with its methodical system
Of never being caught unaWareS. is TAX
ing the necessary measures to face any
eventuality.
Adventure Sent East.
The mine-layer cruiser Adventure
has been ordered by the Admiralty to
Join the China station. This decision
CT the British government has caused
a good deal of comment in naval quar-
tiers.
The Adventure is not an ordinary
cruiser. Since she was completed In
1927, she has been serving in British
home waters as an independent unit.
She is the only ship of this mine
laying type in the British navy and.
therefore, always has been looked upon
as of special value for training pur-
poses. Commenting about its dlspatch
to the Far East. British commentators
stated she will be a distinct adoltion
to the defensive powers OF the Eastern
fleet, since mine laying figures proml-
nently in the protective plans Tor the
British naval bases in the event of war.
The British are not thinking OF war
at present; they are too intent upon the
solution of home problems. But there
is a tension in every part OF the world
The British, in spite of their powerful
navy and adequate naval bases, are far
away from Japan and 1t would take
them many weeks to send their home
fleet to meet a surprise move.
Asiatic Fleet Inadequate.
Their Asiatic feet is hardly adequate
to meet present peace requirements In
that section of the world; 1t is certainly
not sufficiently strong to protect tne
important commercial and terrltoriai
interests which Great Britain mas out
there A mine laying cruiser OF lhe
UNIQUE type Of the Adventure Will noI
solve their problem. but would anor9
an increased protection to their ha'ai
bases in case Of emergency.
European governments. While reailZ-
ing the dangerous possibilities resulting
from the present tension. SUN hope .iia, a,
a new war can be averted. Britain, IN
particular. is anxious to do all that Is
in her power to avoid such calamlty'
Rut during the last few weeks, the pol
icv Of the British government has been
closely interlinked with that OF the
French. AS a matter of fact. at Ge-
neva. Sir John Simon has been more
harsh with the Germans than tne
French themselves Sir John Is Tory
and the Tory party is in ascendancy III
Britain today. Consequently. 1t IS sup
posed that he has been expressing at
Geneva not only the point OF view OF
the present national government, put
the point of view of the whole country
There is a remote possibility that the
French will avail themselves OF the
military clauses of the Versailles treaty
to enforce their respect by Germany.
Relations Are Friendly.
Despite the apparent misunderstand-
ings which are said to exist today be-
tween Germany and Japan. caused al
leeedly by a statement of Hitler regard
ing the racial inferiority Of the non
Aryans, it is reliably reported that the
relations between the two countries are
excellent. This is only natural The
Germans have no interests whatsoever
in the Far East, while the British, the
French and even the Italians nave I'M
portant commercial and territorial IN
terestS.
These interests are frequently in con-
nict with the japanese desire of dornl-
nation OF that part OF the world. Hence
the interests of the japanese and the
Germans do not conflict in any way.
Should Great Britain get involved IN
an European row such as would be Gre
ated by the forceful reinforcement OF
the Versailles treaty on Germany, the
japanese military in Toxic would not
fail to take advantage of such an en-
tanglement to eliminate an important
competitor and an eventual rival in the
Far East.
Precautionary Measure.
This is. of course, known in Britain
| today and the sending of the Adven-
| ture is considered as one OF these pre-.
cautionary measures which the British
generally take when there is trouble in
the offing.
! OF course. the inspired explanation
of the sending of the Adventure is that
it is really a friendly gesture of the
! British toward Japan.
The japanese Navy estimates, it Is
! said by sources very close to the ad-
! miralty. provide for the building of a
! mine,ayer cruiser. rather smaller than
! the Adventure. This vessel is not yet
laid down. probably not completely de.
! signed No doubs, it would prove OF
much interest and assistance to the
Japanese naval authorities to have th'
opportunity of close contact with the
Adventure under normal service condi.
/ tions.
There is nothing from Toxic yet tc
! indicate as to how pleased the Japanes.
naval authorities are with the gesture
of the British naval authorities.