Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 15th, 1918. THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 March 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 15th, 1918. THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN.

J.v tho course of an address at Sydney on “Japan and tho Peace of the Pacific,” the Consul-General for Japan made some interesting remarks regarding the general situation created by the war and its development. He went on to point out that the Anglo-Japan-ase Alliance was first signed on January, 1902, since when it has been revised on two occasions, the first being •on August 12th, 1905, and the second :n July 13th 1911. Prior to the establishment of this Alliance, Russia was regarded (and in some quarters feared) is an ambitious and aggressive militirv Power, in endeavouring to obtain Jic control of ice-free ports in the Pacific, and to threaten the existing interests in East India. Germany Was ready and willing to assist Russia in these projects, and to go to greater lengths in order to obtain political or commercial advantages for herself. In Great Britain it was the late lamented King, Edward VTT. who fully realised these conditions, and the situations they .created, and who strongly urged ulequate measures to be adopted for the prevention of possible trouble, in f spite of the great difficulties which then beset any British authorities who would suggest a departure from the time-honoured policy of “splendid isola-" lion.” And it was these efforts on his hen Britannic,. Majesty’s part which secured for Turn the well-earned title of “the peacemaker.” The late Em>?ror, who will be known to history as Meiji Tenno, was also one of the greatest monarclis who have occupied a throne, and lie was perfectly' ready to grasp the extended hand of the famous British King. Thus was the foundation laid of the guarantee of the general peace of the Far East, a founda- , l ion as solid as a rock. It is interesting to discover, in the speeches of prominent British and other statesmen, 'he different opinions held in different (Harters upon this tremendously important Alliance. On March 17th, '914, Mr. Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, said in the British House of Commons: “Onr obligations with. Japan provide against (that is to say. render unnecessary) an increase in the European Squadrons (it is presufn■d that lie meant British) in the Far East, and there is no reason to sup. noso that Japan will need Britain’s friendship any the less after the expiry of the Alliance in 1921.” T may add here that the bond between Britain ■ind Japan secured tbe sqrety and maintained the repose of Australia. That speech very quickly evoked in the Commonwealth of Australia and New

Zealand expressions of dissatisfaction and misgiving, and public statements noiv made attributing ulterior motives to Japan. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance has been baptised in blood, British and Japanese blood, and blood- we are told, is thicker than water. And the British’ and Japanese nations together with other brave Allies, are found to he determined to stand or fall together in defending each other •'gainst the common foe. It is surely time that the national arms of Japan, as J have tried to explain them, and her proved fidelity, were clearly understood and hotter acknowledged, even in this quarter of the globe. You may rest assured that, .come what may, during or after the war, Japan will he found proteting the general peace of tlie Pacific with all her power, and indefatigably and energetically and endeavouring to see that reason and justice and the common interests of mankind shall prevail there, instead of the brutal forces of militarism, with all their man-degrading and soul-destroy-ing consequences. One other point which I should like to touch upon, and which perhaps may be regarded with more interest in Australia than in other parts of the world, is the final disposition of the late German colonies on the littoral of the Pacific Ocean, such as Kiao-chao, German New Guinea. the Marshall and Caroline Islands, and Samoa, which were all captured by the combined forces of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. These colonies had been acquired by Germany, ostensibly for purposes of peaceful trade and commerce, but actually, as has now been disclosed, for strategic reasons, as naval and military bases. According fo all newspapers it should be centuries before Prussian militarism can be trusted by Australia or Japan to occupy any territory so close to our respective shores. It is therefore the strong desire of Japan, as well as of Australia and New Zealand, that these colonies shall not bo banded back to Germany, as, if they were handed back, the peace of the Pacific could not ho regarded as secure from the operations of a threatening and dangerous element. These concluding words of the Consul-General are sure to he re-echoed throughout this Dominion, and it will he a tower of strength to Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward when in London to have behind their personal demands so definite a statement on behalf of Japan in resect to the same subjet.

The news of th© war operations in Palestine continues to be uniformly good. A steady and methodical advance ia being made, and excellently maintained. It must not he supposed that the advance is one of the easy episodes of the war. On the contrary the natural conditions are most trying, and the activities of the enemy and to the very ardous character of the operations. One distinctive feature of the campaign is the marked success of Sir iE. Allenby, whose generalship has resulted in the most signal victories of the war. His success is an instant reply to the press critics who poured out the vials of their wrath, when this distinguished Com. Blander was sent to the East. This criticism has long died down, hut the moral of the occasion is still there to be applied. The British occupancy of Palestine should have a far-reaching effect in the East where the minds of the people are so impressionable . The British troops entered Jerusalem not as conquerors, but as liberators, and their entry was joyfully welcomed by the populace. The reign of British Government in that hitherto tyrannically run country must continue to Have a good effect on the minds of the people, and the liberators will continue to he regarded with joy and confidence by all sections and creeds within the; zones of' British control, A French paper consequences will follow the further advance of the British by severing the Turkish communications with Arabia, and securing the Palestine conn, try to the Allied forces. This measure of success will he very acceptable at this stage of the war and it is to be hoped the objectives will lie fully realised.

Judging by a press message published yesterday the Minister of , Agriculture has made up his mind to give the farmers an increased price for next season’s wheat. There docs not appear to he any idea of reducing the cost of living on this account. The Government are failing once again to grasp a national question in a national way. A press message from Tiinaru earlier in the week indicated that at a meeting of the S°uth Canterbury Farmers’ Union it was stated that unless the present price of wheat was increased substantially, farmers could not afford to grow wheat this year. The meeting ultimately carried unanimously a resolution to the effect that Government be asked to fix the price of next year’s wheat at once, and unless the price was increased substantially wheat would not be grown. This is tantamount to the farmers throwing down their implements and stipulating unless they get their -price they will Tipi ,go on producing food supplies. When the coal miners do that sort of thing they are called strikers, and earn much obloquy for sticking up for what they conceive to be their • rights. The farmers, however, are not called strikers, and generally have enough inluence at' court to gain their point. This is one of the instances where our Government has failed to be national, and deal with the food supply question in the time of war, as it should be dealt with. This dountry can grow abundant food supplies, and that it loes not do so. or that producers may pifck and choose what they shall do, emphasises that compulsion should go much farther in regard to essential matters to win the war than merely mi- ' litary service. ,