Evening star., 1934-04-26

%0'~- SA
The japanese announcement that
they intend to be henceforth the busi-
ness manager and the policemen of
China continues to create a sensation
in the European chancellories. Eu-
ropean public opinion, usually diSin-
terested in Far Eastern affairs. has
become really excited ever what is
termed in England. "Japan's brazen
announcement" And it is not diff
cult 10 understand all this excitement.
On the one hand. Japan is flooding
the world markets with goods so cheap
that no country can compete with
them, and on the other hand, the
japanese government tells the other
nations that it reserves Tor its exclu-
sive use the huge markets CT China
where 500000,000 people need raw
materials and manufactured products,
The British note to Toxic is
likely to be tolloWed shortly BY
more strongly pordcd Italian note.
MusSolini feels Japan's competition
in ItGly'S ercluSiue territories such
10 6t'tiOPtu u'tu TIC Doth0ho, OtF Y
keenly. He does not miss chance
to rap the japanese ouer the
knuckles. Italy is one OF the tetD
Western nations trho does not be-
lieue in the myth OF Jdpdn's mill
tdry and naval inrincibility.
The fact is that the japanese Army
has never fought a really organized
army or navy. Their only conflict
with a white nation was in l904-5.
when they fought and defeated the
Russian Army. But the high Russian
command in those days was rotten
to the core and the japanese, all
during the campaign, never attacked
unless they had a superiority of three
to one. As for the defeat of the
Russian Navy under Admiral Rojest-
vensky, the Japanese Navy could not
take much credit. The Russian ships
had travelled some 10000 miles before
meeting the japanese Navy and were
in a bad state of repair when they
reached the Straits of Tsushima.
Their speed after so many miles of
travel was greatly inferior to that of
the japanese men-of-war who met
the Russians fresh from their home
bases. In the fight against the Ger
mans during the World War at
Tsingtao. the Japanese did not give
such a good account of themselves.
They had three full divisions against
some 1900 German regular troops
(marines) and some $500 reservists.
x X X X
The French cabinet is making a
serious effort to curtail the huge army
of officials which makes France one
of the most bureaucratic nations in
1000 900 officials in that country
with population of 40.000000 people.
This bureaucracy 1CdS organized
by Napoleon / Ullen he introduced
his ne1U deal, after the French reu-
olution He gGUe jobs to artists
1uho could not sell their paintings
and to ,UriterS Uho could not find
publishers He simply put them on
the governments pay roll. The
succeeding French goUernm n s
pere not able to abolish these
SinecureS.
x X X X
The new Emperor of Manchukuo is
surrounding himself with talent from
abroad, which he places in important
positions. Besides an overwhelming
number of japanese officials who are
imposed by the Toxic government, he
is using an American as his counsel
lor" in Washington and has hired
a former Austrian naval officer and
professional bridge player as his per-
sonal secretary.
Baron Hugo Accurti, the new pri-
vate secretary. used to be a friend
Of the new Emperor when he was an
exile in Tientsin and the baron was
in the Austrian diplomatic service,
after having resigned from the navy.
Both men had known hard times.
Pu-Yi as a refugee in the japanese
compound in Tientsin. and Baron
AcCurti, who having lost his job in
the diplomatic service, was making a
living in Vienna as bridge teacher
without Culbertson's genius for max
ing this profession a real paying
proposition.
Fortune, in the shape of the Jap
anese government, has favored Pu-Yi,
VINO as soon rs circumstances per-
mitted, sent for his old friend and
gave him a good job at his court.