The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 2. JAP AND JONATHAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 2 March 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 2. JAP AND JONATHAN.

The United States of America has its own "nigger" trouble, and up to now the vast majority of white folk in the Republic are unable to differentiate in treatment between one kind of colored , man and another. The Japanese people have suffered deplorably from "swelled head" since they were permitted association with white folk. The "little brown man/' crushed "the Russian bear," giving Japan, a .greater status than even her temporary alliance with great Britain and her entry into the arena occupied only by first-class Powers. Japan having been admitted to such international equality especially, as she has guns and courage and science to back her up—is unable to understand sec-' tional class prejudice, racial hate, or any methods levelled at the steady progress of Her ambitions. Japan has become westernised in method but has remained Japanese at heart. Japanese human nature does not change, but Japanese human nature is'crafty, "shifty," unreliable and fatalistic. We have seen how splendidly the imitative Jap can seize the finest points in western methods and reject the weak. Japan cannot create, but she can improve. Her success entitles her to believe that .she can go .from victory to victory and from domination to domination. The British Navy is the pattern for the Japanese navy, Japan's naval officers have been received on every British naval training ground with open arms and on terms of equality, and so Japanese and leaders feel able to insist that their people shall not suffer on the score of color in any white man's country. For some years there has been a war of wits between America and Japan, the first intimation of antagonism being given when Japanese in American territory demanded educational facilities equal to those afforded the born American. The steady insistence of Japan gave good results—to the Japanese—and there is no doubt that any pronounced national antagonism in America to Japan's ambitions and demands will lead to conflict. The fact that the President of the United States has personally agreed to waive the law restricting the entrance of Japanese is no promise that Congress will waive it, and the decision of Congress, which may or may not be influenced by the commercial relations between the two countries, will be awaited with interest by every Power. For Congress to decide to permit the free entry of Japanese would stir the antagonism of many States which are bitterly opposed not only to the entrance of Japanese, but also to the entrance of any Asiatic people. Japan, with great successes of arms and diplomacy, can see no reason why Uncle Sam should not discriminate in favor of the Mikado's subjects, even though she carefully prohibits the entry of other Asiatics. Previous to the "westernising" of Japanese aspirations, the Jap was not a migratory person, but his successes have opened his! eyes to the value of migration, so that at present in the Sandwich Islands, from which the Japanese might easily migrate to the United States, there are nearly 100,000 little brown men, the majority of whom, it is believed, are trained to arms. If President Taft is able to obtain the permission of Congress to admit Japanese wholesale, it would merely temporarily satisfy the pride of Japan, for assuredly the citizens &? the United States, who arc apt to take matters in their own hands, law or no lejw, would institute race riots exceedingly disconcerting to the powers at Tokio. If, on the other hand, Congress decides for the exclusion of Japs, word will possibly come from Tokio to clear the decks for action. We have read a good deal lately about the possible fraternity that may exist between America and Britain should it be necessary for either to accept a challenge, but in the event of a Jap-Jonathan war during the interval that is still to be covered before the expiration of the Anglo-Jap Treaty, Britain's hands would be effectually tied. At the expiration of the Treaty, supposing it is not extended for a further term, the position of Australasia will be even more interesting in relation to Japan than the present position of America, especially if the Japanese passion for migration and expansion grows in the meantime. British politicians who view the color question from a country which has no color question, are perfectly convinced that the dominions should he open to men of any sliade who care to come, and this will strengthen Japan in nnv demands she may make at the expiration of the Treaty for a footinsr in British dominions. Australia and New Zealand would be unable in anv circumstances to force exclusion on Asiatics if thev desired a footin?. and a time miilit arrive when j imposition of poll-tax would lie a farce, i In the meantime., as far as the United

States is concerned, it has been argued that even if the restriction is withdrawn against the entry of Japs, the authorities at Tokio will be good enough to prohibit anything but a gentle "dribble" of brown men to the United States. But the Tokio authorities rule a small country with a population vastly too large for its productiveness. Further, there is no "race-suicide" problem or a declining birth-rate in Nippon. In their colonisation of ex-Chinese territory, the Japs have shown enterprise, craft and cruelty, but most of all a ready adaptability to new circumstances which make them successful colonists and spur their desires for territorial gains. The Australian knows and the New Zealander knows that Japan is a menace, and that the next four years will be aft anxious period. Asiatic aggressiveness may bring about the most desirable of all international events—a defensive alliance of Anglo-Saxon people. The culmination of the present Jap-Jonathan unpleasantness in war would possibly have the effect of hastening such an alliance. Japanese territorial possession in any white man's country would germinate unthinkable problems, the gravest of which would be the ultimate mixture of blood. The present and immediate future gives and will give diplomatists and statesmen deep problems. Solutions of these problems by arbitration or diplomacy must influence tlie destiny of two great peoples.