The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1919. CHINA AND JAPAN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10273, 7 May 1919, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1919. CHINA AND JAPAN

Whatever the merits may be of the settlement with China and Japan,' it seems fairly clear that these countries TV-ill not Obstruct the final Peace settlement. Japan gets what she wanted, and China is put into a sort of halfway house in which the settlement of her affairs will be arranged later on. Japan, meets the situation with the silence of consent, China with the ingftriujiy"bf Oriental denunciatory finesse, 'and the world in general is supposed to he satisfied with the establishment , of an Asiatic Monroe Doctrine under the guardianship of Japan. That seems to be the.broad outline of the settlement. If so, we can understand the silence of Japan, as well as the protest of China. Now, the leading feature of the situation in the East is the vital necessity for a Monroe Doctrine—an agree,ment which will stop the encroachments of the outer world, which, if not stopped, will make the preservation ot the world's peace extremely difficult, if not impossible. As the Chinese representatives at the Conference more than hinted the other day, the German occupation of Kiao-chau was the outcome and climax of that disgraceful competition for European spheres of influence in China, which was aimed, towards tho close of the last century, at the virtual partition of China, lhe mere fact that Great Britain found it necessary to counter tho Kiao-chau arrangement 'by tho "lease" of the \\ei-hai-wei territory threw a light on the general European.policy, which put an end to all discussion of its character. The thread of that policy to all the Asiatic interests, including the Japanese was perfectly obvious. The Japanese war enabled Japan to safeguard her interests, and the great German war, together with the fall of Russia, has reduced the threat very . con\ sideraibly. .But the danger remains in the weakness of China, which, unless protected in some way, must continue to offer the temptation which the imperfect hold of vast resources always offers to the strong. The however remains that the great Powers have shown by their conduct that they are not proof against the temptation. Hence the necessity for lome tive control over the weakness ot China. That weakness has been emphasised by the result of the movements of recent years which have divided China between two tactions, each bent, not on good government, of which both seem to toe incapable, fcut on living on the PJun?" of foreign loans and foreign exploiting contracts. Both are armed, «*»*-"" been said by those who know the conditions, that the stoppage of foreign loans would cause the collapse of all the military forces of both sections. Apparently it has been decided that the only way out is to recognise tho controZg power of Japan That Japan has been working to establish tnat power over China can be proved By merely reading the treaty forced by Japan on the Chinese Government at Pekin, in 1915. By that treaty, speaking briefly, no concessions can be granted, of the old sort, without the Consent of Japan; some important railway, mining and port conditions' are granted to Japan; tho organisation of armed forces and munition factories is made Bubjcct to Japan; and tho control of tho police in certain districts is handed over to Japanese officers. In ! addition, the Japanese acquisitions in Manchuria are to be recognised. This treaty the Peace Conference, though adjured by tho Chinese representatives to denounce it, has determined to recognise. The Conference .has determined also to recognise the secret treaties by" which the Entente Powers have recognised the right of Japan to arrange conditions for the cession of KJao-cha.u to China.

It has been said, by at least one sharp critic, that this recognition of the Japaneso demands is the price exacted by Japan for the rejection of her claim to absolute equality among the nations of the League. But as Lord

Robert Cecil has' pointed out. the mere fact of tho entry is proof of tho recognition of the Japanese, claims' to equality. It conies to this, then, that tho recognition of tho treaty of 1915, tho dominating treaty of Japan, is the result of tho Entente trust in tho promise of Japan to exercise her control over China in a manner just to China and fair to the rest of the world, which is to have the advantage of tho ' open door, and the opportunity for all enterprises of fair and legitimate character. It is a question of trusting Japan. The treaties of alliance with Japan, together with the conduct of Japan during the war, aro sufficient to justify this trust. To trust Japan implicitly [as the guardian of the new Asiatic Monroe Doctrine on which tho world's peace must largely depend, is the logical outcome of the relations with Japan of the- last two decades. The recognition of Japan as the strong Power of tho East may not be pleasing to China. The intention, however, is to benefit China, if at the expense of. her pride, which cannot be allowed to jeopardise the peace of the world. On the whole, if Japan is to be trusted —and that is the crucial point—the Eastern settlement announced is one of the best things' in the Peace Treaty. That Japan is to l be trusted, is, we believe, beyond doubt. Moreover, the guarantee of Japan's good Taith is strengthened by the obvious fact that it is to her interest to keep her promises' as tho Power in control of the /Ear East.