The statement made by Mr. Hachiro Arita, Japanese Foreign Minister, on Monday, expressing Japan's "deep concern" with any situation that may bring about a change in the present status of the Netherlands East Indies, has, as it was expected, evoked world~ wide repercussions. In some quarters it has been held to herald the possibility of Japan seeking to assume control over the Nether-Jands' colonies in the event of the home country being overrun by a threatened German invasion. On the other hand, it is suggested that the Japanese statement was inspired by a fear that one or other of the Allies would seek to dominate the Nether~ lands East Indies in somewhat the same manner as the Allies through Great Britain have extended their protection to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, following the German inroads into"Denmark. The parallel which some claim to perceive between the case of Denmark and the Netherlands in the event of an onslaught upon the latter is not, however, entirely a good one. Allied control of the Faroe Islands and Iceland is necessary for strategic reasons, to make sure that neither of those places shall be used as aeroplane or submarine bases by the Germans, No such consideration applies in the case of the Netherlands East Indies, and there is no reason whatever to suppose that the war in Europe can be extended to the Far East by any action upon which Germany might embark, and certainly nothing to support the view that such a development might occur as the result of Allied action. 'The invasion, and possible occupation of Holland by the 'Germans would no more mean the disappearance of the Netherlands' Government than did the German occupation of Belgium during the last war mean the abolition of the Belgian Government, or its loss of control over its colonies. It follows, therefore, that the last thing the Allies would desire to do in the event of Germany attacking Holland would be to render it such a disservice as to seek to deprive it of its rightful possessions. The possibility of the Allies toking any step in the Netherlands East Indies likely to prejudice the rights of a country which they are willing to support against possible German aggression can be completely disregarded, 'The interpretation put upon Mr. Arita's statement by the special correspondent in 'Tokyo of this journal is probably the correct tone, namely that Japan does not at present Intend to make any move with regard to the Netherlands' dependencies so long as other Powers refrain from doing so. If, therefore, Mr, Arita's declaration is taken merely as a "hands: off" warning that will probably be the correct view. to adopt, though it has to be pointed out that sucha warning was wholly unnecessary, in view of the fact that the last thing the Allies would desire to' do would be to Interfere with the rights of a nation which may be forced by German agfuression to join their ranks, The Japanese statement had the result of bringing United States leaders into the field with pronounce~ ments that any change in the status quo of the Netherlands East Indies would be "pre~ Judicial to the cause of stability, peace and coming from Mr, Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, was later reinforced by just as forth-ight' a declaration by President Roosevelt himself. The warning was not addressed ly to Japan but to the world at large, and this insistence by the United States on the inviolability of the territories of the Nether ands East Indies foreshadows American action in the event of any Power or Powers seeking to take whatever advantage might accrue to them in the Pacific by reason of further German aggression in Europe, There cannot be the slightest doubt as to the legalities of the situation. In Notes ox-changed between the United States and Japan as far back as 1908 each of the two governments declared their policy to be directed towards the maintenance of the status quo in the region of the Pacife. That was subsequently reaMfrmed in Notes which the United States, the British Empire, France and Japan,—as parties to the treaty signed at Washington on December 13, 1921 relating to their insular possessions and their insular dominion in the region of the Pacific Ocean, sent to the Netherlands Government on February 4, 1922, in which each Government It is firmly resolved to respect the rights of the Netherlands in relation to their insular possessions In the region of the Pacific Ocean.
'The obligation then entered into still exists, and the United States, Great Britain, France, and Japan are detinuely committed in this matter, and would be' dishonouring their own signatures were any of them to take such action as that against which most of the leaders of the four Powers concerned have already uttered their warnings. There is no reason whatever why anyone should seek to interfere with the Netherlands East Indies. Those colonies occupy, and play a completely neutral role in supplying all customers with various essential! commodities, which makes the economic interest of each one of them more than usually important, and which necessitates that the' rights of all shall, be scrupulously respected. With the Netherlands' colonies allowed to carry on their business as they have done hitherto,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.