The Dominion MONDAY, JULY 18, 1921. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 251, 18 July 1921, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, JULY 18, 1921. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC

The general attitude of the nations concerned towards the projected conference on Pacific affairs and the limitation of armaments seems to be in harmony with the hope expressed by Mr. Lloyd George that the conference might result in a pact of peace which would make the Pacific Ocean really pacific, and lead to a fruitful discussion on disarmament. The Prime Minister of Japan (Mr. Hara) has been hardly less outspoken. He stated in an interview, according to a cablegram which appears to-day, that he will spare no effort to help the conference to success, and added that “he welcomed the opportunity to vindicate Japan’s position before the world.” Although something is also said by correspondents about questions over which Japan may raise difficulties, it need not be doubted that her Prime Minister has promised only what he means to perform. Japanese statesnpen are well able to perceive that the proposed conference at Washington offers Japan, at least as much as any other nailion, a golden opportunity .of lightening her burdens, and making her position more secure. Japan has nothing to lose and everything to gain by making the most of whatever opportunities this gathering affords “of removing the sources of international friction.” Any nation which neglected these opportunities or raised needless obstacles to agreement would take, a course diametrically opposed to its own interests, as well as to the success of the conference. Pome of the statements attributed unofficially to “prominent Japanese” rather suggest that Japan expects to find herself isolated at the conference, but it seems impossible that such a position could arise unless Japan herself brought it about by adopting an attitude on the question of “racial equality” which would incur and invite British as well as .American opposition. If equality is reasonably interpreted, no difficulty need arise. It is certainly open to Japan, for instance, to impose restrictions on immigration into her own territory corresponding to those imposed by America and the British Dominions on Asiatic immigration. Indeed, no one is likely to question her action if sjie imposes ever severer restrictions. In regard to mandates, also, Japan is on a basis of full equality with other mandatory Powers. She would take a course directly calculated to antagonise both British, and American opinion, however, if she raised the contention suggested in a cablegram to-day : that if equality of opportunity be postulated in China, it must not bo denied in America and Australia. The suggestion that Japan will make this claim is without official sanction, and obviously it would be inconsistent with her Prime Minister’s statement that she welcomes the opportunity now afforded of vindicating her position before the world. Equality of opportunity, or the “open door” policy in China, would not impose obligations on that country, but would give it the advantages of unrestricted foreign competition in Chinese trade and investment.

Japan would not be promoting her own interests, or a good international understanding in tho PacU fie, if she opposed this measure of justice to China, or made it a ground for demanding impossible and unreasonable concessions from America and the British Dominions. The position in regard to China and Japanese special interests in that country was fairly summed up not long ago by the Chinese newspaper Chung Hua Hsin Pao-.—

All that America wants in her China policy is tho maintenance of the "open door” and "equal opportunity” doctrines, while all that China seeks from Japan is fair play as an alternative to coercive dealirgs in defiance of China’s sovereign rights. Nothing is further from the Chinese mind than tho intention of excluding the Japanese from the Chinese market. But if the Japanese should persist in their oppressive tactics by creating here and there spheres of exclusive influence and by indulging in sinister designs in order to become China’s dictator, sho naturally antagonises the Chinese people. . . . We look to the more cultured Japanese people for a thorough reformation of Japan’s China policy, because for various reasons the Japanese traders will even thrive better than their Western competitors when the door of the. Chinese market, is kept wide open and equal opportunities are made accessible to all.

It is a vital condition of success at tho impending international conference that all the nations represented should agree to be governed in their relations with China by considerations of justice and fair play to that country. Japan will sacrifice no real interest in satisfying this condition. On the contrary, she would thus do a great deal to pave the wav to a full understanding between the Pacific Powers. Other controversial issues like that of tho Yap mandate are likely to be more easily settled 'if Japan disclaims any desire to pursue an oppressive policy towards China. It of course goes without saying that unless she puts herself in the wrong by demanding a position of special privilege in China or making other unreasonable demands, Japan will have every right to look to her British allies for support and sympathy at the Washington conference. Japan and the Empire have an absolutely common interest in resisting some of the claims and contentions raised by the United States in regard to mandates. The principal arguments employed by the American Government in the Yap controversy in effect, challenge all mandates under the League of Nations, and Japan, with her associates in the League, is entitled to reply that tho American Government by its own act discarded the right to exercise an effective voice in the disposal of mandates. Tn practical discussion it must speedily appear that the extent to which the mandates question can be reopened must depend upon the lengths to which America is prepared to go in accepting .external responsibilities she has hitherto declined. The fact that some of the questions open between the Pacific Powers are likely to be rather difficult of solution, of course, makes it all the more necessary that they should meet in friendly conference.