RACE EQUALITY

Dominion, 14 August 1919, Page 5

RACE EQUALITY

VIEWS OF THE JAPANESE PREMIER WHAT JAPAN DEMANDS hi response to a recent invitation from the Sydney "Sun" to contribute an original article setting forth his views on the present position of Japan in the world, and his aspirations for the future of his country, Sir. Kei Hara, Prime Minister of Japan, replies: "I have pleasure in addressing to you the present letter, in the assurance that it will have the good fortune to be read by not a few of your countrymen in the Dominions of Australia and Now Zealand. L?t me begin by saying how gratified 1 am by the opportunity. We in Japan have been, thrilled with admiration by the magnificent deeds of heroism performed by the gallant Australian aiimy and navy. The exploits of the Australian Expeditionary Forces, with those of the cruiser Sydney and tho rest of tho Australian, and New Zealand fleets, have been followed with eager interest in Japan. Wo may. well felicitate one another on tho happy outcome of our united efforts in making <ind keeping Far Eastern waters tlio safest placq in the world. And we hail with Tejoicing tho passing of the black days of war, and tho decisive victory achieved in common ovnr tho forcKs ■of Machiavellian state-craft and woukl-bo despotism—forces abhorrent to your free countrymen, and mino. Naval Occasions. We do not forget the many occasions on which the vessels of our navy have bean received with a hearty British welcome in Australian nnd New Zealand harbours, and wo hope and belie-vo that the conduct of our men on those occasions was such as to create a not unfavourable impression on your minds. We only wish that we had more frequent opportunities' of returning the courtesies which wore bo hospitably lavished on our officers and men alike, and wo hopa in tho near future they will be accorded us. Also we watch with very great interest and attention tho bold experiments in social and political science of which tho southern continent and New Zealand are tho scene. Whatever varying views may bo entertained from an academic standpoint on the insistent problems of human organisation, it must oo of general benefit to mankind that they should ba put to the test of practice, in n new country which is unfettered by the traditions and relationships of tho 'Old World, and which is consequently in a position to exercise a free hand in legislation, with a minimum of friction and to an extent scarcely possible elsewhere. Australians, ogain, havo played a conspicuous part in the development of luercantilo relations between the British Empire and Japan. Their ability is unquestioned, and their energetic efforts universally appreciated. Without Prejudice, Japan has entered at a late stage on tho field of international relations. Sho entered it without prejudices, preconceived ideas, or national prepossessions. Her single object was to ac(|iiit herself as a worthy member of the international family by a scrupulous adherence, to tho rules of conduct approved by the circlo of nations with whom she had thenceforth to do. I may modestly point to the universal verdict of experts that, alike in peaco and in war, Jnpnn has distinguished herself, sometimes in very difficult junctures, by a close adherence to tho prescriptions of tho Law of Nations. It is not necessary for mo , in this short communication, to cite their opinions, but wo in Japan are entitled to congratulate ourselves on (lie fact of their anproval. Further thnn this, determination to folloiy the most correct course in all our dealings with foreign Powers we had no special policy, to consult, beyond that of preserving at all costs the integrity and culture of Hie empire, and as a corollary, tho peace of the Far East.

Both were threatened by the conrso of events, ami it '.was Japan's lasting Rood fortune that when German lnnchinatiqns mndo it impossible for her to maintain an nttiludc of detachment from world politics, she formed herself in alliance with the British Umpire. Neither country had n,p to then been united in alliance with any other for nearly a hundred years. Each had endeavoured to preserve an attitude of "splendid isolation"; consequently n'oither was encumbered with any special prepossessions or prejudices, and they were free to accord to one another a single-niipßle attachment. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance die! not (nice shape as a matter of policy only; it represented a real and deep-seated mutual appreciation on the part of Die two peoples. The labours of ■ Satow, Arnold. Chamberlain, Nitobe, Rcdesdale, and other brilliant interpreters of the Japanest spirit had en-operated with the work of our artists and craftsmen to create n genuine interest in, and affection for, Japan in the minds of tho British peopie, and I can assure you that interest in the political and moral ideals and writings characteristic of the British has exorcised an even greater influence on the life and thought of Japan. Mutual Respect. This great Alliance, if precipitated by passing events, was really the outward expression of true popular sentiment, and the cardinal feature of our policy has always been to remit no efforts to preserve ami strengthen it, nr, a real alliancpof pKjplcs who feel ultra etpd to one nnotitrir, <i.;:d who respect and admire one another's (iiuliticfl. A<lmirinK nml respßctin.' British quo.litif,s as wo do, we admire them none tho li«s wlicn they are transplanted overseas. Tho vigorous fresh shoots that have sprung up in tho Pacific npring from the old Rritish stock. Thnir independence in dofcrcdin? and proclaiming what thoy know to bo right (new more flnnly ilisn'liiyed Mian in the pa?.l four years)—their hatred of prritonce nnrl their inwbncn on l.lip doctrine of human worth-nre, In <■:<>■ Hip kmt, not Ip<s compicuous in Ainlrnlia, and in Now Zealand than in f.h» Briliili Tm'cs. yliid if T .am Tiprht in li.oVlint: tlml; rr-siir-nh for chnraetnr. mnrif. .nnd nbilily i« Ilio hn\]mark of ;\ii.--trnli.-in eiilfiin'i. tlir.n '[ beKevo Hijit tjin /liis(rirli;ni or I'lin New JWilnnder will find hinist-lf at homo in Japan. What Japan Demands. On the o their hand, when tlm Japanese goes abroad, a just tense of what is duo.' to himself and his nation will not allow', him pernianentlj- ito to.'c-I'ato'a racial discrimination in the enjoyment of rights and liberties which are freely granted to his neighbours. He accepts their standards of living, and invariably desires, with the versatility or his race, in every way to adapt himself to his new surrauncliiißS. He expects to bo received in the spirit in which he comes, and this, your raiders will agree, is not unnatural.

T need liiairdly add that Japan cnlcrliiins nnt Wifi remotest ideas of aggression. No one can fail i'o reali.;o at this fifiiiio of tlio world's history the utter poworlessnoss of brute force to advance the truo interests of a people, however (treat. The experience of Germany in Po'cind and in Lorraine is alone suffioiwit (o provo this. Japan has sustained too much anxiety from Urn aggressiveness of predatoiy Empires to bo in lovo with aggression.

In conclusion, let me express my feelings nf warm appreciation for the great riualitins of the people of Australia and Now Zealand, and my deep conviction that as nwir neighbours north and south of (ho Efiir.il'or, we slia.ll studv one another's civilising flnr! productive, work with unbroken syinpal'lrv , , intelligent imand ninlujil advantage. We aro different—but our differences are copipVnipiiffiry; hi n= not keep iealously a.le'if, hut ininsr.'o our Vst points, anil make the Wft-vn Parifi" an accepted model for the whole world.