The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-16
JAP ANS MOVE
PORTENDS WAR,
is CONCLUSION
Report Says Nippon Needs
Superior Arms to
Back Policy.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
seripps-Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-Be-
tween Japan's walkout at London.
following her take-it-or- leave-it de-
mand for navy second to none,
and Italy's plight as a result Of
sanctions, there is vital link.
Poor in natural resources, Nippon
intends to push her drive for con-
troll over raw materials so deep into
the Asiatic mainland, If not into the
Pacific islands to the south, that
war will u the logical outcome.
Japan's poncy, therefore, is to
make herself impregnable, or as
nearly so as humanity possible, both
geographically and militarily. For
this superior navy, army and air
force are indispensable.
Japan Is Wary
japan does not intend to be
caught as Italy-likewise lacking es-
sential raw materials-has been
caught by the League of Nations. At
least not If she can help it, and she
believes she can.
If Japan had navy equal to any,
and used the inundated islands she
took over from Germany as sub
marine and air bases, and mined the
passages between the chain of
islands stretching from Kamchatka
to Hongkong, not even the COM
bined fleets Of Britain and America
could safely challenge her there.
BY setting up puppet, buffer states
in Manchuria, Mongolia and North
China whence her army and air
force could operate, she would MAKE
herself impregnable against any
military power on earth, save, per-
haps, the Soviet Unions.
Nippon Views Area
From such a position Nippon then
could expand still farther with ever
increasing safety. For the more this
area comes under her control the
less League sanctions could hamper
her.
Meantime, her situation is not so
secure. IF sanctions are ever APP
piled against Japan, as they have
been against Italy," report of the
American Council of Pacific Rela-
lions declared today, "the top-heavy
industry which the island empire
has built up may bring disaster to
the entire nation-unless depend
able foreign sources of raw materials
can be assured"
Which is what Nippon Is desper-
ately striving to do-assure herself,
in time Of war as we'll as in time Of
peace, of essential raw materials.
Japan's reserve of iron ore is not
only poor in quality but extremely
limited. She has little coking coal
and what she has is none too good.
Oil, rubber, cotton, nickel, anti
mony, lead, zinc, tin and other ma
terials are either wholly or part
ly lacking.
Chromite Plays Role
1.-THE japanese" the report adds,
"are endeavoring to get exclusive
rights to Philippine chromite, a
key material for war purposes. The
United States is bound to have
more than casual interest in this,
as it produces very little and con-
sumes one-fourth Of the worlds
annual production"
To encompass sufficient raw ma
terials to make her relatively Sc
cure, Japan will have to include
within her orbit considerably more
Chinese territory, perhaps all
Eastern Siberia, the Philippines and
the Dutch East Indies.
North China has vast quantities
Z I the best coking coal in the Orient.
Eastern Siberia is said to contain
vast iron deposits. Soviet Sakhalin
has considerable oil. The Philip
pines grow all manner of needed
materials and the Dutch East In
O. dies yield oil, coal, rubber, copra,
foodstuffs and many other products
vital to Japan.
Philippine Independence
The Philippines are soon to be set
free. Their possession would give
Japan control over this entire sec
ton of the Pacific. plus the southern
and southeastern approaches to
China and Japan proper, together
with undreamed-of stores of raw
materials-provided she owns
powerful fleet.
Refusal of japanese foreign
office spokesman to consider joining
other powers in a guarantee of
Philippine independence is regarded
as significant. rather than impor-
tant. For, it is remarked here, such
a guarantee would mean nothing
anyway.