JAPAN'S AMBITION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 78, 26 December 1907, Page 6

JAPAN'S AMBITION.

'-v-'-^v SPEECH BY>THE PROGRESSIVE ■ : 'v-:- '.■"/■;'■'/■* ':.'> ■':! '■ '~; ' ■ ■'■''*■- '-■'■' •_■;.; =;;.-.-#r;W-v : ./ ■.•; ':U ; • 'NEW SPHERE IN INDIA.; : ■ BI TELEOaAPH—PBES3 : ASBOpIATION-<6PTMQHT. ■'". '; '■■::■{■:■ ■■ . -, '.'. ,, ■■ ./foklo/'ip'eißeihVrV.SS,;':''' -'Count, Okuma,: in,;.tlve course of :.a-speech' to: the ''Kobe Chambfl; ;;6f' Cbmrne'rce,' said the Indian boycotting" of ■.•British., /goods ' r.ffqrded an .excellent opportunity-for Japrjhese merchants, .who; go ( to tho South.'Seas; -~: '■.:;. -, ; : ':.■:'.■ ■''. '~.'.: Some .portions of the''speech have been ■ taken-as that ..India is.looking ; ■> to" and ■ advising -the : Japann state.'av'.il 'themselves'of '"the riches. : . .'■;.■"■■'■■■.;■■ London,'-December 23.." Count Okuina's speech has caused much. comment in English newspapers, which await- . confirmation of .the report. , ' ; of:.:tho.:Couht's .'- . ipeech.'- .' . -. ;,; . •.',•:'■■,.•';'.■•.■:■<;.,•-■■ -■•/';■..' : .'■■'■•'..Count'.'bkunia .was Primp' Minister'iii. 18SJ&-9?,-■',',»ndf is .■'.now .leader.; of.; tho, T ]jrogresSives A , or . Japanese Opposition. American writers blamed l . ..him' for having ..been thei foremost'iii^'exciting the Japanese public to reprisals'whbn tho.ahti' colour riots.in California loomed''so' , ; large;. . In ' .fact, "it,--.was alleged .that , *th , e; f : , Japanese',had. copied; western , political - methods, jiryi./that '■;:'.'the.' Opposition ■'we're deliberately; making' papi-; .: tali: out of : the crisis hi;' tho'hopb ■of '.turning ' out,.the.'Japanese,;,Goveriimont..' v If -.a certain . , brand /of .jirigoismi''is, a*!.;h,as l ',becn, v allefte.d > 'the-.'.''ito'ck-in-trade-' of tho Mikado's Opposition, it .'may.-bo that, it lias sought a new yen!" in .the" .position 'of India'.and Britain. The'clause in, .' -"the revised Anglo-Japanese alliance, ■ under V, which. tjie .Japanese' aririjv/practicall y.'.;gua'ran-. , tees.- the , ; defence. of .India, , ' has: -been regarded by many critics as tantamount' to. a'confession;' to both Indians andTapanese, that "a greater' ■arm;:.'than-Britain's:il!asr;..arisen , i , ;in'.'.Qriental' affairs. Following.;oh,!this comes tho unrest /■ in India;, tho ".swadeshi" or,,boy-" ■'■'■. totting of "British goods; the'recent capturing. . ~Df\the carrying ,traao_bptween. Japan.. and'.Bom-" .'., bay by thV. Japanese-mercantile marine:;' This V:!ihaih .of events and. impressions, "'Tiowever 'V:vague, may'. 1 possibly..;;'have :the- ;".' 'niind of tlio'.yellow man, or % section'of 'h'imi"< , '•'■; to,lpok ; still' further:ahead.'; , ';,:'' ,: ; ;'-; " '''; '. .: