THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3192, 17 September 1917, Page 6

THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE

i AND "WHITE AUSTRALIA" ' VIEWS OF A JAPANESE ; POLITICIAN l An interesting series of articles on tlio ; Anglo-Japanese Alliance is contributed : to the Japan "Chronicle," Kobe, by Mr. 1 Yoneda, :i member of the Japanese ; House of Representatives. Dealing with : tho "whilo" Australia policy, ho says:— 1 "A point calling for serious attention ; is the attitude of the British coloiTh.3 1 towards Japan, and tho position they are likely to assume in British politics in 1 future. The British colonies in South 1 Africa aro too far away to have anything • to do with this country except for some ' trade connections, and there is nothing t to cause grave anxiety about relations ■ with Canada, but what does claim serious attention on die part of tho Japan- ' eso aro relations with Australia. Tho ; European war has brought relations be- '■ tween Japan and Australia into very, friendly connection, but there is some doubt whether the present cordial rela- ' tions will bo maintained after the war. Prior to the outbreak of war there wero 1 feelings of enmity in Australia against ' Japan, whom the Australians regarded i as the destroyer! of a 'white' Australia. This is a very ridiculous misconception,' ; but, nevertheless, such mistaken views prevailed, and to some extent; still prevail, in Australia, to our great regret. • "When the immigration law was under discussion in Australia desporato efforts were made by many influential statesmen ; and journals in that country to make ' the law very hard upon Japanese immigrants, and when the law was promulgated it was most rigidly enforced against the Japanese. Referring to tho ' defensive measures of Australia, it may be noted that a plan was drawn up to organise an independent naj;y, consisting of 1 battle cruiser, 3' armoured cruisers, and 6 destroyers. It is, of course, quite natural that cveiy country should pay close attention to the armament question, l>ut it is very regrettable to observe the clear indication that tho chief object of the Australian Navy is to guard against Japan's alleged aggressive plans. . With tho elevation of Japan's position'in the world after tho Russo-Japanese War. baseless views prevailed in many quarters abroad attributing to Japan sinister designs upon the Dutch Indies, Philippines, and other foreign colonies. Some foreign critics even, accused Japan of an ambition to bring the South Pacific under her sway. The warm reception which the people in Australia and New Zealand accorded the American cruiser squadron in 1908 when it called there on its round-the-world cruise may be partly ascribed to the fact that they regard America as their co-operator against Japan. Sir Joseph Ward, Premier of New Zealand, did not hesitate to make the public declaration that ho looked upon America as Australia's ally in a future war against tho expansion of Japan. , In the street cars of Sydney a picture representing a soldier with the Japanese colours attempting to seize Australia was prominently displayed, underneath being words of warning to tho Australians to be on their guard. "When the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was revised in 1911 a provision was inserted which virtually absolved Britain from the duty of assisting Japan in the event of hostilities breaking out between Japan and America. It is, of course, quito conceivable that from the racial standpoint" tha insertion of such a provision was ■welcomed by many British people at homo, but it is a fact recognised by all well-informed persons that in taking this step the British Foreign Office was greatly influenced by the anti-Japanese views prevailing in tho British colonies, especially in Australia, It was the Australians who advocated the duty of patrolling the Pacific being undertaken by forming three squadrons, .one each by Great Britain, Australia and Canada, and it is also the Australians'who aro condemning the Admiralty for having withdrawn the British fleet from the Pacific to put it in the North Sea, thus leaving the patrolling of the Pacific solely in Japanese hands. When all things are considered, it appears very probable that the anti-Japanese attitude of Australia will have a very serious effect on the alliance when the rights of the British colonies in framing British diplomacy arc moro fully established in the near future. "The other point jailing for attention by the Japenese people is that neither Britain nor Japan has any longer a common enemy against whom the Alliance was formed. Russia is now tho intimate friend of both countries, ,and though Germany may bo regarded as their common enemy in a very modified srnse, in so far as the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is concerned, that country is now deprived of her base of operations in the Par East. Thus, the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is about to lose its second objective. Meanwhile, Australia and Canada will complete their respective defence programmes, so that Britain need not leave tho guarding of the Pacific solely in the hands of the Japanese Navy even should the British Far Eastern squadron be withdrawn to European waters. This state of things, when it comes about, will probably have the effect of weakening the foundation of tho Anglo-Japanese Alliance." The writer, in giving reasons against a Japanese-German alliance, says:—"Some publicists, though fortunately they are few in number, advocate the conclusion nf a Japanese-German Alliance, but I question the value of such compact. The first reason for my deprecating such idea is the unreliability of Germany in her international obligations. It must be admitted that tho Germans have their strong points, 6uch as unequalled diligence, surprising organising power, advanced science and burning patriotism, but they have a serious demerit in that no reliance can be reposed on their diplomacy. For instance, while inviting Turkey to mako oommon cause with her, Germany had no scruple in contriving for the conclusion of a separate peace with Russia by offering Constantinople— which the Turks hold so dear—to Bus. sia. On the contrary, the British havo the admirable characteristic of observing their obligations. The failure of tho diplomatic policy pursued by Viscount Grey vis-a-vis the Balkans is a case in point. Had Viscount Grcv resorted to such crafty diplomatic methods of dealing with the Balkan States- as Germany is so fond of adopting, that failure might have been easily averted. But Britain is above regarding international agreements as 'scraps of paper.' If Japan stands in need of an ally, it foes without' saying that faitjhful Britain is far preferable to faithless Germany. "Secondly, the question of naval strength must bo taken into duo consideration. Whilo neither Gormany nor Russia has a military strength sufficient to overwhelm tho Japanoso Army in the East, thffie British Navy would be a formidable factor against this country if Japan had to meet Britain in war. Moreover, Japan must be prepared to see America go to Britain's assistance in such an extremity, seeing that America is bound to Britain by racial ties. This point must be regarded in its proper light by those people who aro cognisant of the relations betwoen Japan, America, and Great Britain, and it need be scarcely pointed out that if Germany was Japan's ally sho would be unable to render any valuable assistance to Japan in naval matters. "The question of tho supply of war materials must be also seriously considered. To refer to but one point out ! of many, what is the output .of iron in ■ this country? It is said that Germany , needs 27,000,000 tons or more of iron a year in order to carry on the present war. As all the iron oro which Japan ' can obtain from Chinese Korean and ! domestic markets does not 200,000 tons a year, Japan is looking to European . and American countries for the supply . of most of her needs. If is' therefore . easy to imagine the distressing condi- ; Hon into which Japan would fall if war I broke out between Japan and Britain. ' and Japanese shipping on the Indian and other oversea routes is jeopardised. "For tho abovemontioncd reasons I prefer an alliance with Britain to one with Germany, and there is little doubt that the British people are also desirous of the maintenance of the Anglo-Japan, ese Alliance as long as hostility or competition remains between Britain and Germany. With all my desire for the maintenance of the Alliance, however, I cannot but recognise the existence of some grave difficulties in tho way of keeping the Alliance on a 60und basis for years to come,"