"We all know Japan has in mind three important strategic points in the Pacific—Saghalien Island in the North, Hainan Island in the West, and Guam in the East.
"With a view to her complete naval dominance of the Pacific, she has been keeping a covetous eye on all three places. Should all these Islands fall into her hands, both Hawaii and the Philippines would be as good as Japanese-occupied ferriter, "Having got possession of one half of Saghalien Island," the Generalissimo went on, "Japan is now trying to occupy Hainan Island in the hope of frustrating any possible concerted action that might be taken by the British and American navies in the Pacific.
"If such a scheme goes on unchecked, Japan will next attempt to place herself in a position to control Guam."
"Eventually, she would be able not only to hamper the westward movement of the American fleet, but also to cut the line of communication with the Philippines.
"For the furtherance of her southward expansion and the dominance of the Pacific, Japan for 30 years has been scheming to build a st tegic triangle out of the three islands, "In 1936, when she provoked the Pakhoi incident," General Chiang continued, "her intention was to usc as a pretext to establish herself Hvinan Island. But for fear of iweruational complications, she darci not go any further than this, Attempt to Conquer China Now Japan, regardless of the consequences, has invaded the This move is the last dempo military attempt at the conquest of China, if it is not for the purpose of inciting a world war.
"After several decades of hesitation, what Japan is now doing is the most important event since the commencement of the Sino-Japanesi hostilities, but it is also the turn point in the history of the Pacific Ocean.
Japan has thus revealed her inordinate ambition, and I do not see how those countries which have vital interests in the Far East can watch with unconcern this dangerous development."
The Generalissimo then pointed out that to the Japanese navy, Hainan is the first line of advance in the Pacific in the West, just as Guam Island is in the East, Questioned as to where he thought Japan's second line of advance would be, the Generalissimo, smilingly replied that the people in Europe would be able to answer and that particularly the Americans would know.
Asked to what extent he thought the Japanese seizure of Hainan Island would affect peace in the Far East, the Generalissimo answered that the occupation of Hainan Island might be considered to be a counterpart of their occupation of Mukden on September 18, 1931. He said that the effect was the same irrespective of the fact that one was committed on land and the other on the sea.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.