London, Feb. 17.
Describing the seizure of Hainan Island as a breach of faith, "The Times" today says that breaches of faith have become so much a matter of routine with Tokyo that it seems doubtful whether the present rulers of Japan realize how damaging their light-hearted record in this connection may one day prove to their country and to the Emperor whom they serve, Continuing, "The Times" says that the move merits scrutiny as a defiant gesture made with a view to embarrassing Western Democracies, particularly France.
It is no secret, writes "The Times." that Italy and Germany have lately brought to bear on Japan such pressure as they command in the Far East, in the hope that Japan would take some action calculated to fi ther the ends of the Anti-Comintern Pact. Doubtless, these suasions helped the Japanese high command to take a decision which it would certainly have postponed had not German and Italian wishes coincided both with the ultimate aspirations of the Japanese Navy, and certain short-term desiderata related to the China campaign.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.