JAPAN AND INDIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 319, 18 January 1908, Page 6

JAPAN AND INDIA

A REAURKABLE ADDRESS. In our last issue, writer the " Kobe lit'laid'' of 31st October, we published the substance of. a speech made by Couut Okuma at the Kobe Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening. There is, however, one part of that utterance which demand* more particular attention. We append a full translation, from an extended report iri the "Kobe Shimbun," of the Count's references to India:

"Jmlia aud the South Sea would also be wry good markets for your goods, Vou lmist uol be eon tent with thorn, however. Vou should go to Europe, too, from time to Vou need not make me <>f foreign steamers Vou can go everywhere by Japanese vessels. .Any place where the Japanese ilag ilies may Im' regarded as Japan, In this meiLsv the •Japanese dominion extends to the Pacific and Chine*? waters, the Indiau Ocean, and Korea. Vou can go everywhere with case and pleasure under the protection of ihe Japanese Meet. Being oppress! by the Kuropcans, the three hundred milium people of Judia are looking for Japanese protection. They have commenced to boycott European merchandise. If. therefore, the Japanese let the chance slip by and do not go to India, the Indians will be disappointed. If one will not take gifts from Heaven, Heaven may *end one misfortune. From old times India has been a land of treasure. Alexander the Croat obtained there treasures sufficient to load one hundred camels, and .Mahomet and Attila also obtained riches from India. "Why should the Japanese not also stretch out their hands towards that country, now that the people are looking to the Japanese. I lie Japanese ought to go to India, the South Ocean, and other parts of the world/'

Those re ma rks created consternation anion# the Uriiish settled in Japan and China. The "Kobe Herald'' (Engliwh) savs that Count Okuma is not noted for discretion in his utterances, but thinks lie went far out r»f bis way to inform a gathering of prominent Japanese business men and officials that the millions of India are being " oppressed" by Europeans—which in this eonneetion can only mean the English—ami also that he exhorted his countrymen to assist the Indians to persevere in the foolish attempts which have l>eou made in some parts of the Dependency to boycott European goods. There can be no doubt that the Count's words, unles* he hastens to remove the impression which they must naturally convey, will do a givar deal of harm.

The "China nazette" (English), of Shanghai, commenting on the incident, explains that Count Okuma, the leader of the Progressists, the second largest political party in Japan, ex-Premier and .Minister of Foreign Affairs, is undoubtedly one of the foremost figures ill contemporary Japanese history, and one of the maker-j of new Japan. His followers number tens of millions, and, though he is out of office to-day, he may readily he in power to-morrow. For personal influence aniong*t .Japanese statesmen ' he is a strong second to Marquis Jto, i and with the militant faction, the Army and Xavy. he perhaps even comes before his veteran rival. Moreover, Count Okuma is the founder and head of one of the greatest universities in Japan, the Waseda, and his word upon all subjects, especially upon political questions, commands the greatest weight in the country. llis speeches are followed with eager interest by all his compatriot?, and the foreign statesmen who would close their ears to what Count Okuma says because lie is not a responsible minister at the moment, would make a grave mistake. When, therefore, the Count speaks with that singular frankness which often given such a. precious weight to his words, and lw>fore a sober meeting of Japanese merchants, bankers and business men at the Kobe Clumber of Commerce, addresses himself in the guise of a candid friend to his British allies, we are compelled in order to gather from his remarks, something of the true spirit that animates Japan and the Japanese, our loyal and chivalrous allies, upon the -oibject of India. The prospect that India is destined to become ere ji.ng one of the most momentous questions wiili which ihe British Kmpir* ever had to deal lends additional interest (o the lateM and n»v»t outspoken word- of Count Okuma upon the sub-