PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1927, Page 1

PROBLEMS OF PACIFIC

DIPLOMATIC PLANS IN CHINESE CRISIS. WELLINGTON, Jan. 25. How the world centre of international importance lias changed from the .Mediterranean, then to the North Sea, now to the Pacific, was graphically described in a- luncheon hour talk by Mr Prank Milner, At.A., rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School. He had, ho said, given international questions, and those affecting the Pacific considerable study, and. lie was glad that two organisations had arisen, the Pan-Pacific League and the Institute of Pacific Relations having as their objective a better understanding among the twenty-three nations fronting the Pacific Ocean. It was an important fact, that these nations surrounding the Pacific comprised two-tliirds of the world’s population. POSITION OF JAPAN.

Japan, he said, had made rapid emergence into the comity of nations from practical national obscurity, and since her defeat of a wliito lace, in Russia, her future was eagerly watched. Ho considered fears of Japanese invasion, a journalistic bogey. For one tiling Japan’s eyes were not on Australia or New Zealand at all, but on the United States, whose refusal to include its people in national quotas has aroused Japan immensely. Japan’s eyes, from the viewpoint of expansion, were chiefly, however, on China- and Korea. Altogether there were not marc than 600,000 Japanese in other countries. They were not' an emigrating nation. Japanese wore welcomed in Brazil and other parts of South America, but had not- taken advantage of the opportunity. He was of opinion. as were many who had studied the position, that Japan’s immense industrial strides would absorb quite a large proportion of her natural increase. The Government had decisively vetoed birt-li control propaganda. The Japanese were one of the most efficient, if not the most efficient, people in the world, and their fatalistic fidelity to the Alikado. to the extent of sacrifice of their lives if necessary, was deeply rooted, but be thought that this characteristic, instead of making them a nation of jingoes ready to exercise chauvinistic tendencies on the rest of the world, would find expression in industrial expansion . DIPLOMATIC SITUATION RE-

VIEWED. It was also wrong to think that Japan discriminated against other nations as residents. She was ready to admit possession of Japanese land by all nationalities permitting Japanese possession of land in their own country. Japan’s aspirations in the East tinged her diplomacy in the present crisis and accounted for the attitude of friendly question. Npt one nation had supported Britain’s proposals of a few months ago, which, would have

satisfied China’s national aspirations. France had been unfavourable, and it was a remarkable fact that French diplomacy had been in opposition to British on practically every occasion since the European war. While there were no doubt Bolshevistic intrigues at work China was in reality trying to achieve stitutional, educational and others and emerge from—religious, industrial, conip. one e&ort the five 'that had taken England centuries to

| federal autonomy. Her real aim might be' achieved without danger, especially if she was aided from outside in the proper way. He extolled Britain’s tolerant attitude of forbearance as likely .together with the application of part of the Boxer indemnity to the amelioration of Chinese problems, to give Britain her proper place in Chinese estimation to an extent that no other course of action would have achieved.