THE AWAKENING OF THE EAST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1036, 27 January 1911, Page 5

THE AWAKENING OF THE EAST.

SPEECH BY LORD CURZON. DEPLORES COLONIAL OBJECTIONS TO YELLOW MEN. INJURED SELF-RESPECT. By Teleeraph—Prcs3 Association—Copyright, (liec. January 26, 11.35 p.m.) London, January 26. Lord Curzon, in delivering his rectorial address at Glasgow University, discussed the demand of the East for representative institutions. There had been an enormous change during tho decade. Tho personal ruler still appeals to tho Oriental, but where absolutism .has been accompanied by a 'defiance of the national spirit the East is willing to borrow Western methods. This was a symptom of the reviving self-consciousness of the Oriental mind.

Referring to the coloured labour objections of Australia, South Africa, Canada, and America, Lord Curzon said objections were not based on prejudice alone, . but had an economic justification. There was •a danger lest the friction should attain serious proportions. The British, with their liberal and humanitarian ideas, should be tho leaders against such a'prejudice, especially as the coloured races within, the Empire outnumbered the whites. ...

The Eastern world seemed everywhere to bo evolving a revived sense of national pride, coupled with resentment against foreigners. Possibly if foreign capital and protective instruments were withdrawn the East would incontinently col-, lapse, but the East was aspiring to walk alone, and behind that desire was a certain feeling' of injured self-respect. Tho East was unlikely to accept Christianity. China's future depended mainly on whether Parliamentary Government will have a dissolvent effect inside the Empire. 'If China is able to preservo her unity and organise . her industry and .commerce,.she must become one of the greatest Powers. The self-centred and unwarliko character of the Chinese, however, rendered it improbable they would utilise their power for aggression. China contains enough unoccupied territory for double its present population. Japan's principal need was to. preserve, the national virtues of self-sacrificing patriotism and simplicity, which keen observers reported were in some jeopardy; 'and also to check Socialistic doctrines among industrial ■ proletariat. Korea, Manchuria, and Saghalien would suffice Japan's surplus population for a while, but if tho present attitudo of America' and the British overseas Dominions, in prohibiting. Asiatic immigration were maintained it might lead to a conflict. Tho Philippine Islands wero perilously near Japan, but were within the tropics, where it was doubtful if the Japanese were able to settle and work.