Evening star., 1936-07-26
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

N vOW tHdL tIlt EIIllOpldH QucS-
nj ton has been liquidated and
the sanctions against Italy
have been lifted, Great Brit
ain is using its breathing spell to take
stock of the situation. Once more
she is looking toward the East
For the moment there Is no major
conflict in sight in Europe. France,
with her internal problems, is pas
siye spectator in the international
political game. The Anglo-Italian
antagonism exists, and will exist Tor
a long time, but on the surface the
relations between the two countries
have improved somewhat. Talk OF an
immediate conflict between the old
and the new empires has ceased.
Germany has pegged her claim Tor
colonies but is unlikely to press II
this Summer.
Loosening Of the tension in the
Mediterranean enables Great Britain
tn reorpanize her naval forces. The
heavy ships withdrawn from Haifa
and Alexandria are being replaced
by smaller craft-destroyers and SUD-
marines-which the British adnlral-
tv is building and commissioning as
fast as the navy yard can denver
them.
The cruisers and battleships are
being refitted after months OF strenu-
ous service and vigilance IN the
Mediterranean. Late in the Fall they
will be sent to the Far East to
strengthen the depleted British force
there.
Japan Worries London.
For. while on the surface there Is
no friction between the British ana
the Japanese empires, the activities
of the latter during the last few
months have been continual source
of worry to the London government.
The spirit of imitation is a salient
quality among the japanese. The
Toxic government has followed the
recent European developments with
intense interest and received enthusi-
astically the news that Italy and Ger
many succeeded in Haunting the
British government and the League
of Nations over the Ethiopian affair
and the remilitarization of the Rhine
land.
Japan has had her own successful
experience in China. but she is now
preparing to spread farther south.
The weakness shown b. the power OF
law and order" has encouraged
Japans jingoists to make further in
roads in the south, especially in the
one remaining independent state be-
tween Afghanistan and the China
Seattle Kingdom of Siam.
Ever since King Prajadhipok was
deposed, the japanese influence in
that country, situated between India
and French Indo-C China, has been in
creasing. Siamese cadets and OH
GERS are being trained in naval schools
in Japan. japanese trade has been
replacing the British. The yen is
gradually taking the place Of the
pound in Slams financial affairs.
Considering Canal.
The new government has once more
taken under consideration the pro-
posal to allow japanese engineers to
pierce the Isthmus of Kra and build
a canal which would connect the
China Sea with the Indian Ocean.
This project, if it materializes, will
make japanese ships independent of
the Singapore Straits. japanese diplo-
mats have promised the Bangkok
government to return to the SOW
ereignty of Siam the provinces of
Angkor and Battembang. which are
at present parts of French Indo-
China.
The strategic importance Of the
Kra Canal cannot be overlooked; it
would open the way to the Indian
Ocean for the japanese feet and
the entire defense system of the Singa-
pore base would have to be changed.
At the present moment Singapore's
fortifications and big guns are facing
west. So far there has been no threat
from the east.
But If the Kra Canal materialiZes
the danger will be imminent. The
British mean to avert that possibil-
ity before it is too late-before the
canal is built. And for that reason
more Of Britain's big ships will have
to be based in Singapore and more
hangers will have to be constructed