ANNEXATION OF KOREA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 118, 26 August 1910, Page 5

ANNEXATION OF KOREA.

JAPAN'S MOVE. | BRITAIN DOES NOT OBJECT* By Cable.- -Press Association,—Copyright Received August 25, 9.55 p.m. London, August 25. The convention in connection with the annexation of .'w-«a has teen «jgned by the of Korea, and the annexation will be proclaimed on the 13th September. (Britain does not object politically, but is unable to outline the commercial effect until the conditions accompanying the annexation -are published. The German Government considers the annexation as the natural sequence of events. "The economic condition will be discussed at the forthcoming negotiations for a treaty of commerce between Ger-

many and -Japan. The Times, commenting on Japan's momentous decision, states that Japan iia.a heretofore had "the option of withdrawing from the mainland and holding the liaotung. Peninsula. The South Manchuria railway leases were determinable by a term of years. The protectorate x>f Korea was not necessarily permanent.

Some of the Japanese, continues the Times, regard the change -with misgiving. The railway projects in North Korea show that Japan was aware of her new and grave responsibilities. Nevertheless tile die was cast when China renounced Iter claim to Korea and Japan undertook the responsibility of carrying out internal reforms. "Every step since had "been consecutive and inevitable. The Times trusts Japanese statesmen will remember that the world will watch her future policy in Korea with muchexpectancy and some anxiety. It would lie deplorable if the original inhabitants were submerged under Japanese immigration. Japanese expansion was doubtless a political and economic necessity, but Japan would fail to win the approval of the civilised nations unless she also ultimately materially advantaged a gentle, unworldly and not unkind race.