The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1917 THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1918, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1917 THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN.

(With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post and Waimarino News).

The famous Dr. Morrison, who needs no introduction in any part of the British Empire as an authority on far eastern questions, has arrived in New Zealand. As most people are aware, the greater part of Dr. Morrison’s life has been devoted to interests of Britain in China, where he has with wonderful success filled diplomatic roles and conducted more delicate ambassadorial missions than have fallen in the path of most British representatives. Dr. Morrison was entertained in Dunedin by the Otago Expansion League, and, in what is described a weighty address on the evergreen fareastern question, he unfolded the attitude of Japan in this war as it has not authoritatively been %tated since the early days of hostilities. Most people in this Dominion will be somewhat surprised to learn that the preponderance of sympathy amongst the Japanese military is on the side of Germany in their military action in Europe; moreover that the military spirit of the Japanese people is rather for than against Germany. Japan has protested on more than one occasion her earnest desire to co-operate with Britain in this war. Viscount Ishii, head of the Japanese mission to the United States when the recent Japan-ese-Ameriean agreement was arrived at, stated on behalf of his Government that Japan desired to do its part in the complete suppression of Prussian militarism. It is understood that Dr. Morrison would not be likely to countenance undue furtherance of Japanese interests in China, but we were scarcely prepared to learn from him that the military caste and the military spirit of the people of Japan were rather on the side of Prussian militarism than against it in the action it has taken in Europe. In the early months of the war it was different, the Literary Digest then published a' summary of the views of Japanese newspapers which seemed to disclose a rather disquieting attitude, but prompt action at Kiachow, and Tsingtao in clearing Germany right out of the far east re-established some degree of confidence in Japanese attachment to the Allied cause. In the last days of 1914 the “Tokio Yamata” asserted that Japan would render a great service to the cause of humanity if she were to send a strong army to Europe and thus speedily terminate the bloodiest war the world has over witnessed. The *'Tokio Yorodzu ’' was the only other metropolitan .journal that advocated Japan sending an army to the assistance of the Allies, all others were distinctly opposed to doing anything further than expressing sympathy. Dr. Morrison also stated, at Dunedin, on Monday evening, that the tendency of the Japanese and Chinese was to move southward, and Japan had not only great efficiency but also the military spirit, trained on Prussian lines. The views expressed by Japanese leading newspapers in 1914 are not necessarily the views they would express to-day, but from Dr. Morrison's statements the Japanese view of 1914 is the Japanese view in 1918. They are therefore of more than passing interset to every

Britisher in southern seas. With the exception of the two papers mentioned me Tokio newspapers were unanimous in believing that no troops should bo sent to 1 ranee to fight the Kaiser’s soldiers; they sympathised with the Allies in their life-aud-death struggle, out regretted Japan’s inability to see her way Clear to do anything more. The jingoistic “Hochi” strongly opposed the proposal to drag Japan into the European arena. ft asserted that the Mikado’s army was, as it always had been, a weapon of self-defence and not a tool of offence 01 self-ag-grandisement. Once the Pacific was clear of the Germans and their warships Japan’s duty was done, and she should not be urged to play a pait in the world-war beyond the extent of complying with tne terms of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. These views were expressed in WIT, are they the views of the Japanese Clovcrumeut today Er. Morrison’s statements, and

s received ye'sterday, axe coutxibutory affirmation. France has uxged the employment of Japanese troops and Dr. DiliOii has insistently urged that Japan send at least half-a-mdlion trained troops to muropc. Many Bxilish journals have favoured Japanese help as a means of stopping the awful slaughter, at the same time all have hesitated to accept that heip, disclosing some belief that there is no real necessity for it. The war is now moving across Asia in the direction of Japan, and this may result in a revision of Japanese ideas. At Petrograd, the Japanese Embassy has denied that troops have been landed at Vladivostock and it declared that Japan does not entertain the least intention of intervening in tuo internal affairs of Russia. Japan will undoubtedly protect her citizens in Asiatic Russia, and her denials and declarations do not apply to any extension of German interests in the fareast, which would undoubtedly bo resented whether by sea or land. In addition to what was urged by Japanese newspapers at the commencement of the war, Japan’s Foreign Minister, B'aron Kato, stated definitely that his Government had no desire whatever to join hands with the Allies in the European theatre of war. From what Dr. Morrison said at Dunedin, and we cannot question such authority, there has, during the Three years of war, been no modification of Japan’s' views. This attitude of Japan, however, is in conflict with that outlined in the recent Japancse-Amcrican conversations, which tend to the view that the' military spirit in Japan is opposed to the policy of the Japanese Government. Secretary Lansing - says, at the present time it is inexpedient to make public details of conversations, but it may be said that the United States Government has been gratified by the assertions of Viscount Ishii and his colleagues that Government desired to do its part in the suppression of Prussian militarism and was eager to co-operate in every practical way to that end. The removal of doubts and suspicions and the declaration of the new doctrine in the far east w r as enough to make the Japanese Commission’s visit historic and memorable but it accomplished a further purpose which is of special interest to the world at this time, in expressing Japan’s earnest desire to co-operate with America in waging war against the German Government, militarily, navally and economically. This seems to indicate that Japan is not now averse to rendering military assistance whoreever it is urgently needed to secure early allied victory Japan may now be of opinion that her armies will be acting in the nation’s self-defence rather than i n aiding others.