The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3. 1911. JAPAN AND BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 87, 3 October 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3. 1911. JAPAN AND BRITAIN.

Two facts in relation to Japan have boon (linni'd into the ears of colonial people. The first, that Japan would demand British territory in the Pacific when the Anglo-Japanese treaty expired. That Japan would bile the hand that raised it nut of her age-old conservatism and insignificance as soon as she was strong enough was believed. One other fact Is worth considering. Our ''little brown allies'' owe their navy to Britain, and to their navy they owe all that has since come to them in conquest and expansion. What the feeling of Japan is towards Britain it is difficult, to surmise, but it is certain that it ought to be a feeling of the most profound gratitude, because it is British influence to which she owes her modern development and power. Count llayaslii. a distinguished Japanese statesman and diplomatist, has lately explained the enormous influence of the alliance and the confidence with which is inspired bis people. "'The Anglo-Japanese alliance."' lie said, "was made public 011 February 11. 1!H)2. The announcement took the nations of the world by surprise, and not without reason. The negotiations had been kept in strict secrecy, and the alliance was made with one of the greatest Powers of the world, which had suddenly thrown aside its policy of 'extreme isolation,' and joined hand with the rising Power of the Extreme East. This was never expected or dreamed of by other nations." As to the future of the alliance. Count. Ilayashi expressed the opinion that its value and importance will be unchanged, and that there was no doubt of its long continuance. But he says Japan must guard herself against a wantonly aggressive policy. The influence of British idea- on Japan has practically reorganised society. It has reorganised thought ami dress, and habit and business. A Japanese author, Yokoi, mentions that the three hooks which have, exerted the widest and most farreaching effect on the Japanese, have been "Self-Help." Mill:,' "On Liberty." and Mr. Fawcett's "Political Economy." "Self Help" had the advantage of being translated by Professor Xakamura, whose translation "was it-e!f a masterpiece."' Jt. pi-sed through innumerable editions, and was used al«o as a textbook of morals in many schools of the country. "This book."' says Mr. Yokoi. it was which inspired the risin"" veneration of the Samurai, who had just cast away the shackle* of (he feudalism, with the new ideal 0i the nobility of labor, and commerce, industry and the mechanical arts of all kinds, which had formerly appeared mean and contemptible and unworthy of a Samurai, began, thanks to the influence of 'Self Help.' to engage the attention of some of the most ambitious youth. Mills' 'On Liberty. he continues, "opened up an entirely new social ideal, at a time when the old feudal structure of -oriety, a sort of military hierarchy with the Samurai at its head, ami farmers, artisans and traders constituting the lower orders, was everywhere breaking up—people of all sorts and conditions bein<: thrown together on a footing of equality. This new idea] of liberty, with the prospect of calling forth the best jnlent from each man for the service of the State, was at this stage an inspiration that gave meaning and life to the apparently destructive work of the devolution of 1568." In religion and ethics Newman Robertson and James Mar-

tineau exerted much influence, ami Car-*! ]yk> was read a great deal. His "Heroes" I was translated into Japanese, but the j translation, it is said, is difficult to un- > derstand. Doubtless the translator had! his difficulties. Among the poet 6, Words- ] worth has been most widely appreciated.! the pantheistic phase of his thoughts, as manifested in his lyrics, appealing very powerfully to Japanese readers. But more than anything else, the English Bible, together with the presence of missionaries, lias contributed toward the spread of new ethical conceptions. Christianity as a religion, says Mr. Yokai, is yet far from making the conquest of his land, but its indirect influence has been unmistakably great. Summing up the result of British influence 011 modern man, the article expresses it in the single word, individualism. "Confucianism, which has supplied, the ethical ideas to the Japanese nation for over 1000 years, never pronounced clearly on the subject of monogamy, and neither in law nor social customs had individualism gained a distinct recognition, before we came in contact with European thought. Family or clan was considered a solidarity, and personal life and property were often at the mercy of the head of a family or the chief of a I clan. But Anglo-Saxon civilisation came in with the glad tidings of emancipation of individuals from their social and legal bondage. The message consists of two words, freedom and responsibility—freedom in the social and political life, and responsibility in the spiritual and intellectual life." It is an amazing thing that the influence of Britain should have permeated almost every fibre of the national life of Japan but the most peaceable means. There is no precedent in history for.such ,a transformation, and it has usually been by painful physical conquest that a subject people have accumulated tlie ideas of the conquerors. Mental, mora] and commercial influence applied by the genius of British statesmanship have transformed Japan and raised her to a place of eminence among the nations. The immense distance of the islands from those other islands wiiich exerted the benign influence is not •the least of (he wonders of the trans-1 formation. \\ e are, however, not among those people who believe that the inmost heart of the Japanese people is transformed. They are mejely wonderful imitators, and for good or ill the British people wore the pattern. There is no doubt that for all her advance Japan has more cause to fear her own people than outside nations have. to fear her. The condition of the. mass of the people is not enviable. Although by enterprise she has expanded her trade and entered into innumerable commercial avenues, the people have lieen made even poorer than formerly to pay for the cost of her defensive machinery. When the under-dog m Japan rids himself of the idea that it is noble ti> live on twopence a dav in order that the country may have a great navy, and holds that lie,' too, has some rights, the, problem of western countries will go east. That is one of the penalties Japan must pay foi; her splendid imitation, Oeneral education in Japan will create problems not solvable by any but western methods.