RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 16, 9 May 1914, Page 2

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

(T. Boyle.) To me it was a sin-prise to find this intelligent Japanese frank, communicative, and free from guile, for from what I had read and heard J expected to find him elusive, mistrustful, •and suspicious of those seeking information on the undertakings, designs and ambitions of his people. Venturing, as I thought, to introduce a subject that involved the honor of his country, I asked if it were not true that his nation had openly violated one half of the pledges given

to Russia at the closing of the war

JHe replied that it was so. He explained that when these pledges Mere given his people knew they n-ei'e dealing with a nation whose reputation for international honor had long, long ago, fallen into discredit and disrepute: they knew that the plighted honor of Russia was a mere trick to secure a prolonged peace to enable her to restore her finances, reorganise her army, overthrow the revolutionary party, and fit herself to renew her efforts to become master of the north-eastern coast-iline of Asia.

I learned from him that the thinkers and statesmen of his country, were deeply concerned with the great struggle that every year was bringing nearer and nearer and which would involve a sacrifice of human life and a colossal expenditure which must approach a calamity to his country.

He knew Corea, Manchuria and the north-east 1 coastline of Asia thoroughly and on a sheet of paper he drew me a sketch which enabled me to understand somewhat of the wonderful work his people were doing to establish themselves on the mainland, and how by rapid translation and distribution of the army Japan could occupy advantages that could defy the attack of superior numbers. T asked him if his people generally clung to the belief in another supreme effort against Russia, and he replied that in Japan as- in other countries there were millions who did not or could not think, and naturally they had no beliefs, but that with the'great majority it was known that a prolonged and terrible struggle was approaching. His knowledge of Russia's doings in the East was very engaging: he pointed out that she,' iii the most disgraceful manner, had from the very outset, openly disregarded her pledges and set about preparing for a renewal of the struggle." &he was prising back towards the East annexing large tracts of Mongolia and establishing strategic positions at. every po^nt, of advantage. :.'••,.. :.:, <;.•'.

With pride, he' called ray attention to the initiative, ~valour a«d :f endurance of his country's army.;, howit sprang at Kussia in a manner betokening the highest-'quali,ties of the finest soldiers: he claimed that the war, placed beyond doubt, that, the Asiatic when trained and disciplined is move than the equal of the, European"; I made several efforts ; to show him that tJie, greatest authorities had-agreed that the circumstances wore all against Russia and that the finest army in Europe under the*' same pouditions would have fallen back before Japan. ', 'i Turning to the question of war with ihe United States, I found him fami- j liar the nature of such an tin- j lertaking. He 'said ' his people i would never undertake sucli an ini- j possible'struggle; for it would mean disaster to them: the United States ! navy was in numbers and fighting power far superior to that of Japan, and even if the navies were equal, the enormous wealth of the States would overwhelm a relatively poor country like his. He expressed astonishment at the outside world crediting such a rumor, for it had been for the last twenty-five years the settled policy of his country not to fight away from home and to confine her destiny to the mainland of Asia. His people he claimed were not aft aggressive nation, and wished to live at peace with the rest of the world. Then I brought him round to the question of Japanese designs on Australia, and he seemed puzzled as he talked of the widespread suspicion he met in every port where his ship had touched. This suspicion he said was the creation of Australian imagina- ' tion and had no semblance of foun- j dation in fact, for as he explained, what chance of success would his country have against the wealth and power of Great Britain. Here ended what, to me, was an enjoyable hour and a half's friendly conversation with a shrewd, intelligent member of Japan's navy; a ftfan who did not attempt to conceal what he thought of the destiny of-his people and their determination to keep Russia off the Pacific coast-line at all hazard and expense; their fixed determination never to be an aggressive power and never to light away from home; to become master, if possible, of the great commercial rescources and possibilities unfolding themselves in eastern Asia and thereby grow rich and influential among (he nations of the earth. This fragmentary account is of little value as a help to understand the changing scenes that will ere long take place in the east of Asia, but with your permission I will continue with a few T>f my own observations on the future of Asia, the Japanese and their future relations with the great nation to which Ave belong.