JAPAN AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1521, 11 March 1916, Page 4

JAPAN AND THE WAR.

NO SEPARATE PEACE. MUNITIONS FOR THE ALLIES. GERMAN INTRIGUE IN THE PAST. We have it on no less an authority than the word of the Premier, Count Okuma, that Germany has approached Japan with a view to seeking terms of peace, writes Dr J. Ingram Bryan from Toklo, under date January nth. This announcement, coming so soon after Japan’s public declaration of her intention not to conclude a separate peace from the allies, is regarded as somewhat significant. Just in what form Germany has been seeking to conclude a separate peace with Japan Count Okuma does not explain, but he sufficiently hints at it to allow justifiable inference. He suggests that the attempt of Germany to induce Japan to agree to separate terms ot peace was through influential private individuals and other sources, and that she has ap-, proached Russia in a similar manner. While dwelling on the fact that Japan has been thus approached, Count Okuma insists that, such proposals can find no hearing among members of the Imperial Cabinet, and declares that Japan will never consent to discuss terms of peace with Germany except with the knowledge and concurrence of Great Britain. Count Okuma goes on to express the opinion that as Germany was the instigator ot the present con- , flict she should be well punished

and brought to repentance before her opponents determine to end present hostilities. That the Japanese authorities are practising what the Premier thus preaches there is no doubt, as anyone on the spot can well see. Apart from the immense assistance Japan is rendering in the supply of arms and war munitions, she is doing a great deal towards the csnlounding of German machinations in the Far East. Cut off as that country would seem to be from all connection with the Far East, one might wonder what the agents of Germany could do out here ; yet they are here still, and are still very busy. ACTIVITIES OF THE POLICE.

China and the Dutch Indies appear to be their bases of operation. Some time ago a large shipment of Japanese copper was made through a neutral firm in Yokohama, through British banks and insurance and Japanese bottoms, without the slightest suspicion as to its destination, and yet it turned out that ultimately it reached Germany. The neutral firm was simply a fence to hide a German firm behind the transaction. Some will ask why German firms are allowed to do business in Japan. But from the beginning of the war Japan announced that all enemy traders would be allowed to go on with their business unmolested, so long as they did not trade with the enemy, nor do anything to assist him. Since that announcement, everyone, neutral or not, who has keen caught in assisting or even communicating with the enemy, has been deported. Last week a German agent was caught by the Japanese detectives in Kobe. He arrived in Japan some weeks ago, announcing that he was an American citizen named Erenlels, but he turns out to be an Austrian military officer named Groebeck, trom China, and as he has been proved guilty of assisting the enemy, he has to go to prison. SITUATION IN CHINA. The situation in China is at present giving cause for deep anxiety in Japan. Whether the Germans have any connection with the attitude of revolt in Yunan is not clear, but no doubt they would like to see Japan compelled to take a hand in settling Chinese affairs, to attract the attention of America and England, if for no other reason. There are some who suspect that not a few Japanese would welcome the same situation. Many of the leading Chinese revolutionists have taken refuge in Japan, including Sun Yat Sen himself, and they have numerous friends if not actual supporters. There is a widespread feeling that Japan must adjust her policy in China now or never. As Count Okuma says: “It is the chance of a thousand years.” One ot the vernacular papers asks the Premier whether he actually refers to China in this assertion ; but he has not replied. The public takes it to mean China, however, and it is not difficult to see how much there is in it. Japan did not get all she asked for in the last negotiations with Pekin ; she had to waive some of her most vital interests ; but she intends to return to the charge, as the Cabinet promised at the time, to allay agitation against alleged failure of the negotiations. There is no doubt, either, that the present is the opportune moment. But Japan can have no hope so long as Yuan Shih-Kai is in power at Pekin, as he is regarded as Japan’s most bitter and relentless opponent. Any move that would oust him from his present position would be welcomed by many, both In Japan and China.