THE FAR EAST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 4

THE FAR EAST.

POLICY OF THE UNITED 1 STATES.

ISSUES- BETWEEN 'JAPAN, RUSSIA, . , AND CHINA,

Tho United States papers have been vigorously discussing. the political and commercial . relations of the .United States and Japan. But Count Komura, Japanese 'Minister"for Foreign Affairs, say: "I am convinced that nothing- in tho relations between Japan and America, need cause real uneasiness. -The Far Eastern interests :o_f. tho two Powers aro not inconsistent, or antagonistic. War between them is inconceivable.. It would be a crime without excuse, or .palliation. My conviction ' ample. support, in the understanding arrived at in 1908." _

Mr. Fairbanks, formerly Vice-President . of the United States of America,. wlio has'' just returned -from a world tour,. says . "that there .was not .the slightest ground , for the suggestion that .there was danger' , of war between the United ' States' and ' Japan, or any other Power. .'Japan lias ; , a rcspcct and admiration for the United ' States which is genuine and undisguised." - The "Observer" points out some of the'. possible questions on-"which differences■ might.arise. It:.says.that "the-commerce " between the. t\vo ..nations .is. of - the first ■" moment to'each. On "the, expansion of '. American trade in th'e Far "]Mstr-an expansion that'is'jeopardised if animosity replaces' amity in the relations between/. America and Japan—must, depend very, largely the future prosperity of tile Pacific Coast States. - Every/Ainericani' too, ' who is capable, of- .loolaiig the-.facts in

the face must, realise that the-.United ■ States lies" under 'the'/heaviest, bonds of commercial, iiaval,"aid strategical com-' •pulsion to retain the goodwill-of Japan. ■ "But since the Portsmouth Conference the enthusiasm.of Americans fdt Japan lias given place to a. ,cold and resentful suspicion. They have watched' with. al- - most hysterical, alann - the of Japan's organised determination bo'dupli- ' cate in commerce her Bnccess.":in ' war. ' American exporters to tie-Par-East, have 1 been angrily growling thit,. the. open/doer in Manchuria and, Korea/is .aimythical : as other nations have 'to.be.rathe Philippines. . There;, . a./feeling , throughout America that Japan has not only forgotten ' the serviced rendered to. T .her during the /war; but has'risen to &.. Mmme'rcial and political' "predominaiioe " tnat lias no obvious relation to American ' interests.

"American, capitalistsand exporters aia-'' looking more and more towards the Ear * East, as a profitable field of exploitation; : American diplomacy has definitely in- < eluded China and all the. problems that : revolve around China among 1 its, interests. , It is chieHy with- tho commercial aid . political status and future. of. Manchuria .

that American' traders and statesmen are most concerned. . • '

"It, is against "Japan; rather 1 than. ' against Russia tha,t i Washington finds ; itself'defending the • sovereign rights of' China and the principle-of the open'door.-' American, statesmanship .is determined, if : .it can,' to maintain Chinese supremacy-.in •, Manchuria as a stable and, operative fact > and to prevent the province from lapsing - into either a' political or a .commercial, preserve of Japan or Eussia,' or of both. ' It is convinced that, if matters continue t as at present; Chinese sovereignty will '' , disappear by a. process of attrition, En's, sia and Japan "will»monopolise for themselves all, the avenues of profitable ■ de-' • velopmeut, and the United States will hs •: loft out in the cold. It was for. these reasoM that Mr. Knox! p'rqposed the.neu- -! tralisation of ' the. Manchurian railways, their sale' to China, and .their operation ' by a board of international control." '