THE JAPANESE AND AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14884, 26 January 1914, Page 7

THE JAPANESE AND AUSTRALIA.

-. » — : , --:■ ■ The National Peace Council ha* received a letter from the Acting Consul/ Goneral for Japan in Sydney, gmng permission to publish' Ms reply to statements made by Mr Maiden Rcbb in Ballarat in October, to the effect that the largest maps in the Japanese, schools were those of Australia, and that the children wore taught that Australia would be the future home of the Japanese. The letter, dated November 26th, is as follows: — _ ■ "With regard to the relative eizes of the maps of different countries tn the Japanese schools, I am not parod to say which is largest, nor do I think the" matter worthy of enquiry or consideration. The size or school maps is entirely a matter for map publishers to consider, from their own commercial point of view. _ But the statement that Japanese children are taught that Australia is to be the future homo of the Japanese people is a wicked and grotesque falsehood. I am thankful to you for letter, and appreciato the spirit in which, it is written. So far as those are concerned who industriously endeavour to nutnufacturo bad feeling between Australia and Japan, it is not within my province to say anything. But perhaps I may be permitted to quote what I heard an Australian gentleman say afew days ago, viz.: 'A certain section of the Press held the Japanese in contempt twenty years ago, or regarded them as little better than children. Later on, they regarded them with jealousy, as possible industrial competitors, and advocated their exclusion on that account, endeavouring to strengthen their advocacy by the most false and cowardly misrepresentations and insults. Later still came the AngloJapanese Alliance and the Russo-Japa-nese war. These circumstances placed Japan in Etich a position among the nations of the world that jealousy and contempt wore superseded by a craven fear. The growing power of Japan was represented as a menace to Australia, and we were urged to "get a gun in a hurry." Scares about Japanese spies have been invented, and in every case exploded, but without effect upon the shameless methods of anti-Japanese journalists, until at last it seems as though their aim is, by a continuous policy of pin-pricks and insults, to force a situation which may justify their mischievous predictions. Every decent Australian is ashamed of such contemptible journalism.' All I can say is to remind you that, supposing it were true that Japan had designs upon Australia (which it is not), in order to carry out such designs she xvould have to declare war against Great Britain. The individual who would euspect Japan of such folly as that pays but a poor compliment to Japanese intelligence, besides lacking even an elementary acquaintance with international policy."