Japan and the United States.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 8

Japan and the United States.

To divert attention from domestic condition-, by creating a foreign crisis is a well-known device, and the cable message we published yesterday imputing such a design to Japan may bo borno out by events. But it is extremely unlikely that Japan, in her present condition, would push a quarrel with tho United States to tho point of war. At the samo time, tho situation is distinctly embarrassing for the Washington Government, and the way out is uot clear. The anti-Japaneso land laws which California passed last year naturally annoyed Japan, but tho Japanese Government has not been ablo to got any satisfaction out of tho United States. Four months ago tho Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the United States Government had not replied to Japan's third protest, and that tho previous roplies had been unsatisfactory. Tho two countries aro no nearer a settlement to-day. California is determined to do as eho pleases about Asiatic immigration, and the Federal Government naturally shrinks from coercion. Tho Japaneso Government, realising this, is reported to bo convinced that the only solution of tho difficulty is a new treaty explicitly dofining the rights and privileges of Japanese iv the United States. But such a treaty would bo held to inter_!ore with Stato rights, and thenwould bo strong opposition in tho Sen*ate to its ratification. The Senators from tho Pacific Coast would lead the opposition, and would bo followed by Southern Senators, for the South, as it did fifty years ago, objects to nay encroachment by tho Federal Government upon the "sovereign" rights of tho Stato. In 6hort, a settlement ia impossible unless by a new treaty, and tho chances of a treaty being ratified are slender. Mr Bryan, of course, goes on talking bland optimism, but ho will find that optimism does not dissolve high brick walls. Probably he is working diligently to strengthen England's friendship, hoping to influence Japan through her ally. There seems to bo little reason to apprehend war in the near future, but the non-settlement of the problem will add another to Japan's long list of grievances against the United States. As wo in Australasia stand to Japan in a similar relation, we should watch closely tho negotiations between these two countries.

Some littlo timo aero wo gayo prominence to a suggestion made by "Tho Times" during the coal-porters- strike in London, that, the men themselves should go into tho coal-distributing business. It was coldly received ii_ labour circjes. Now. however, a similar move is being made by the unions in the building trade, in which a serious strike has been going on for some timo. Tho Building Industries Federation, comprising eleven large trade unions, has arranged to take over a contract of £100.000. The experiment will be tratchod with widespread interest, and with sympathy in many quarters whero labour men profess to believe sympathy could not exist. If the Federation can show that unions can finance and successfully manage a largo undertaking i'-.c this, . o much tho bettor for industrial peace and progress. But whatever tho outcome the unionists concerned will benefit by the experience, They will learn that whether capatalist or union is the contractor, capital, special knowledge, and business capacity aro essential io success. By the timo tho contract is completed the Federation's executive will probably have more sympathy for tho much-abused contractor than they have now.

Tho minds of the Government's enemies are so clouded by anger that they give themselves away in tho n_ost foolish fashion. They seem at times to forget the years of "Liberalism" that preceded Reform. The Wellington organ of their party, for ex-

ample, works itself into a tearfully indignant frame of mind over the treatment of teachers —the said treatment being wholly due, they infer, to the wretched Reformers. The increase of £1*2,000 given to teachers last year is a

"wretched sop." "With a surplus of £"05,503, that was the best the Finance Minister could do for their grievances, of which he acknowledged the legitimacy." Then, after recapitulating alleged failures on the part of tho Government to keep promises, tho journal says:— "' 'Where is the hope for the tcaciiers r' Echo answers, with a doubt born of experience, 'Where?' " Now, ii the Wellington journal had been wiser, it would not havo given its whole case away by that "doubt born of experience,'' for when was the experience acquired? In tbe twenty-ono years of "Liberalism," of course. A political party is in a bad way when it is thus

ready to cut off its noso to spito tomebody else's face.

If the Conference at IViagara Falls can settle tho Mexican question without further war, it will have done * splendid service to the cause of peace. But the outlook is not so promising as the caole messages seem to suggest. Tho policy of the Conference as revealed by these, suggests a numoer of inexperienced generals planning an elaborate movement against the enemy, the success of which is dependent upon th© enemy doing nothing. The Conference has "arranged"' for the transfer of tho executive power from Huerta to a Provisional President, and will also "arrange" for the holding of elections. But in the meantime the Constitutionalists have been pushing forward, and now General Carranza has proclaimed himself Provisional President. TT!T. Conference can scarcely recogniso Carranza without to a largo extent stultifying itself, but what can they do to eliminate him? Will they put up a Provisional President of their own and let the two fight it out?

The member for Avon was characteristically unhappy in his retort to Mr M/issey's amusing little dig at his ownership of 60,000 acres of land. He replied, in his Milton speech, that "Mr Massey had 1000 acres worth £40 an acre within twenty miles of Auckland," and he asked why Mr Massey did not cut this up for "the people of tho district." If Mr Massey owned 1,000,000 acres worth £100.00o"an acre, that would not be accepted by the public as a full justification of .Mr Russell and a complete answer to tho indictment against him, which is, that while ho is going about tho country weeping for the "landless men" and denouncing the avaricious and heartless "landowners," ho has taken for himself a hundred square miles of "the people's heritage." 7ne charge against him is, not that he owns a huge tract of country, but that, owning it, he talks hypocritical rubbish about "big landowners."

• But Mr Massev does not own "1000 acres within, twenty miles of Auckland." Facts matter as little to "Liberals" of Mr Russell's sort as they do to the curious member for Nelson, whom the Opposition admiro so much for the "ingenuity" with which ho "concealed" his intentions and grossly misled tho Reformers in Nelson. Mr Atmoro has not yet apologised for Jus false statement concerning Mr Horries's possessions. Nor will Mr Russell, we are afraid, apologise for his own lapso from tho truth in his reference to the Prime Ministor. Mr Massey has explained that tho only land he owns near Auckland is a farm of 325 acros, which has been his home for many years, but which is now occupied by his eldest son. "I am not,,a ■.-peculator," he says, "and have never bought, land for tho purpose of selling it, nor have I ever bought more land than I considered was required tor tho members of my family." Altogether, the member for Avon cornea out of the little incident rather badly.

To most peoplo it is a matter of small consequence that Sir Joseph Ward resigned, and was not actually defeated on a vote in the House. Most people do not think of tho matter: it is enough that he is in Opposition, and will stay there as.long as he stays in politics. But apparently Sir Joseph attaches great importance to the fact that he resigned. At Hamilton "he reminded his audience that he had been undefeated in the House," and he explained that ho retired uecau,so"ho was not inclined to go on in an unsatisfactory way, and be at the beck and call of one or two members.'' As we have said, the point is not an important one, but it is as well that the facts should be correctly stated. Sir Josei*h Hard was saved from defeat by to resign—that he .should resign was "the condition upon which the member for Otaki agreed to break his pledge to vote against him. Had be not offered to resign he would have -oeen defeated. He would be better employed now if he were to give some attention to providing the policy of which he is so sby of allowing anybody even a glimpse.