Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
Japan May Take Over
Dutch Isles i Nazis
Invade Netherlands
Nippon Long Hos Coveted
East Indies to Alter
Far East Balance
BY MAI. GEORGE F. ELIOT.

As war clouds gather on the
frontier of peaceful Holland, 1t
should be remembered that what
happens to that country in Europe
also affects the Dutch colonial pos
sessions, as previously suggested in
these articles.
In the East Indies, the Dutch
have . magnificent island empire,
including Java, Sumatra, the greater
part Of Borneo, Celebes. about half
Of New Guinea. the Moluccas and
numerous smaller islands, with q
total population Of over 81, 700 900
and An area of 735, 1000 square miles.
OIL, rubber, iron and tin are pro-
duced In quantity. Is well rs rice,
sugar and coffee. The exports last
year were well over . billion guild
ers In value.
But quite as important is the
strategic position of these islands.
They dominate the approaches to
China, Japan and Indo-China from
the Indian Ocean. and the routes
from the South Pacific into the
South China Sea. They practically
surround the great British naval
base at Singapore. They adjoin,
and in the hands OF an enemy,
would seriously threaten Australia.
They control the Hong Kong -Singa-
pore line between Britain's two Far
Eastern bases and cut both of
from Australia and from India.
Likewise they cut of Frances COL
ony of 1ndo- China from the home
country.
Japan May Step In.
1t is hardly to be supposed that
Germany can reach out from her
blockaded ports to seize possession
Of this rich and tempting prize.
But what about Japan? If Hol-
land is overrun by German troops,
what will happen to the govern
ment of Netherlands India? 1t is
not inconceivable that chaotic con-
ditions might result, and certainly
economic difficulties due to the
stoppage of the flow of manufac-
tured goods and of financial trans
actions. The situation might very
well become such that Japan could
claim that her nationals, her prop
erty and her rights were endan-
gered and in her role of the arbiter
OF East Asiatic destiny, she might
find herself compelled" to step in
and restore order"
Indeed, the Japanese Navy has
long gazed with wishful eyes upon
these Dutch islands, which would
not only enable Singapore to be
neutralized. the Philippines literally
surrounded. and Australia ap.
preached far more nearly than al
present, but would go far toward
making Japan independent of out
side sources of supply in that in.
dispensable life-blood of modern
war, oil. It is in this direction, to.
ward the building up of a great
insular and maritime empire, thai
the navy has long wished to ad-
vance, rather than in continena
excursions into the heart of Asia
There is sound historical prece.
dent for such a course; indeed, con-
centration on maritime. policy
seems from the lessons Of history
to be almost essential for an island
power which must ever depend or
the control of the sea for its safety
The pursuit of continental conquest
at the same time with marine and
colonial expansion has usually beer
beyond the resources of any single
nation. The attempt to do Sc
wrecked Philip II, Louis XIV, and
Wilhelm II. Britain's rise to great
ness did not begin until after the
abandonment of the French policy
which drained her strength during
the Hundred Years War.
Must Acquire Advance Bases.
The uncertainty as to the extent
to which air power has altered the
conditions under which sea power
formerly functioned, and its di-
rect threat to civil populations with
the consequent loss of freedom OF
action by the government in for
eign relations, impose upon nations
like Japan, whose great protection
Is distance from the bases of posi-
Bile enemies, the need for excluding
Is far as possible such bases from
(see ELIOT. Page AID