JAPAN.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 436, 27 December 1861, Page 3

JAPAN.

In Japan, matters have come to a crisis by general acknowledgment. The foreign ministers are at their wits' end for a policy, to pursue—always excepting Mr. Harris, who maintains his inertness, and seldom crosses the threshold of his residence, upon which, it is reported, a drunken attack was recently made by some of the many brawlers who infest that quarter of Yeddo. The last attack upon the British Embassy has at length fairly opened the eyes of Mr. Alcoek to the fact that flights to Yokohama, and every other kindred device, called in diplomatic language '.a firm attitude,' are completely thrown away upon a people like the Japanese. , s

This last crisis is to receive its solution in London and Paris— at least it has been referred to Europe for solution, and will therefore be another card in the masterly hands of the F*erich Emperor. In the meantime the only possible step that can be taken out here, is to turn the residence of the British Legation into a stronghold, which is being done with the cordial approval of the governor of, Yeddo, who, we are satisfied, regrets his inability to oppose the action of the powerful nobles and their legion of retainers. .

Mr. Laurence Oliphant, who so nearly lost is life after having been four days at his post, goes home in person with despatches, in order to.afford the fullest information regarding the state of affairs, and so save the time that would be otherwise occupied in writing back for information upon heads wherein the despatches have been inadvertently silent or incomplete. It is quite clear that a policy must be framed without loss of time by which we shall avoid a withdrawal from Japan, the other alternative of a war with that country being all bui out of the question. Mr, Aleock has wrought hard, if not always discreetly, to maintain his dignity and benefit his countrymen and foreigners generally; but ministers to new countries require to be heaven-sent men, and we have not been so fortunate as to find a man of so rare a stamp to represent us in any part of the far east.

It is due to Mr. Alcock to state that he has for some considerable time back been conscious of his inability to hold such a difficult post, and has requefted to be relieved; but the Government at home have expressed themselves quite satisfied with his performance of the duty entrusted to him, though at last, in deference to his own desire for relief, they sent out Mr. Oliphant as Secretaiy of Legation, with a view to becoming Minister on Mr. Alcock's retirement—at least, all who know Mr. Oljphanf s position at home and his experience in the east could only put this construction on his appointment.

Altogether the Japan question is becoming one of extreme delicacy and difficulty; in which we are without a precedent to help us, while our action, whatever it be in the matter,, will itself be recorded as a precedent for future reference. If we withdraw from Japan—and reasons are not wanting for supposing that we may do so— our relations with China will be liable to the most serious embarrassment; the present must then, for many reasons, be viewed as a turning point in our connection with the east.