The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1910. JAPAN REACHING OUT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1001, 16 December 1910, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1910. JAPAN REACHING OUT.

Tiie annexation of Korea by Japan , and its acoepta^nce. by the great. Powers without opposition or criti- ( cism is a powerful tribute to the prestige and importance of Japan, i!vents for the past fifteen years have moved swiftly towards the decision of the Mikado's Government to abandon its insular position and face a new and larger, destiny on the mainland of. Asia. Japanese diplomacy is shrewd to a degree and, her statesmanship has never failed to bring out in strong, relief a resolute and 'far-sighted sagacity in which, no element was left to chance and tho steps fixed upon to achieve a, given purposo clearly and precisely defined. Tho Empire of Korea dates back over 3000 years, and the extinction of this ancient civilisation is an event, of unusual interest, quite apart from its political significance. In 1904 China exercised a precarious sovereignty over Korea which her defeat by Japan in that year caused her to renounce. Korea, then enjoyed a period of _ independence until Russia's ambitions; in ■ that quarter assumed a' dangerous and threatening tone. The war of 1904-5 decisively, and possibly for all time, disposed of Far Eastern aspirations,' and in tho latter year Japan took'over control of Korea's/ foreign affairs. In 1907 Japanese officials filled the most important offices in tho Korean Government and paramount authority in political, military, and, economic affairs was rccognised. In 1909 the administration of justice passed to Japan and late in August of this year formal annexation was proclaimed. EJvery measure thus carried out was in accordance with a thorough and' determined policy, and undertaken with the same unflagging courage and perseverance that have always distinguished Japan's attitude in tho domain of foreign politics. The annexation of Korea took fifteen years to accomplish, and caused two wars; it also, burdened the .Japanese with an enormous debt-, but little doubt remains as to the soundness and wisdom of the step when tho position in its more important bearings is brought into review. Strategically the position of Japan is now one of the utmost responsibility; her frontiers are no longer the inviolate sea. but stretch away into tho Continent of Asia and in contiguity with two Empires, the numbers of whose peoples can only .be estimated. Happily a treaty with Russia, in .which tho latter country pledges, itself "neither to obstruct nor to interfere with the measures of guidance, protection, and control which the Government of Japan may find it necessary to 'take in Korea", will save Japan the necessity of immediately turning Korea into an armed camp; nevertheless the unfaithfulness of Russia in the matter of treaty pledges will, no doubt, load Japan to lose no time in rendering her new territory as impregnable as possible by cither land or sea.. For the present the economic side of the.question is tho most interesting, and it is possiblo .to determine in the light of analogy what is most likely to take place. Japan has a population of nearly 50,000,000 on an area of. 148,000 square miles, the greater part of which is mountainous and unproductive. An anxious look-out for colonics has therefore exercised Japanese statesmen and bcon the determining cause of Japanese policy for many years past. Formosa, ccdcd to Japan by China in 1895, was Japan's first effort at colonisation, and the success achieved is rightly regarded as ono of the most amazing facts of modern history.. The island has bqen occupied successively by Portuguese,

Dutch, Spaniards,' French,- and Chinese, to'be abandoned by each in turn in chaos and utter failure. Japan siicccoded in the spacc of a few years in grafting or) to an obscure, and for the main part barbarous, racc of savages a modern civilisation, an accomplishment the inore extraordinary when it is considered that Formosa now-enjoys a constitution, laws, and machinery of government essentially European in character, and based on the model of a British Crown colony administration. The success in Formosa is still' further emphasised whqn comparison is made with the Philippines where, with deplorable results, the Americans attemptod to apply the Constitution of the United States to conditions totally, dissimilar' 'and "unsuitable,. At first sight Japan's task seemed hopeless; there was little or no machinery to carry- on the work of civil government; the Treasury This' depleted, Hhe records'■were'' in a state of hopeless confusion, titles to land were entirely undefined. There was no attempt at sanitation, and the filth and squalor of the towns and.villages'were appalling. Japan, moreovor, • had- no. reserve of trained officiate, no administrators of proved experience; yet the work of civilising was prosecuted with such zeal and ability . that- in less than ten years success was assured No- detail has been overlooked; the natives are taught the -minutiac'. of- health and sanitation, opium is forbidden,restrictive- -immigration: '.imposed', and to-day the Formosans are' thor-oughly-contented and show no desire to revert to their former condition. It is. needless to point out that these measures we're preliminary to an important' industrial development; roads and railroads have been built, harbours dredged, and wharves constructed and a sound monetary and banking system introduced. Formosa is - now a ■ valuable asset and a principal 'source of revenue, facts which aijgur well for Korea. That the administration of by Japan will not be carried out without difficulty .is certain— the Koreans have tasted; independ : cnco and - arfr not easily ■ handled. That Japan-.will make a success of its latest venturer however,- may equally b&. taken :for granted.