THE ASIATIC MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 3 July 1914, Page 2

THE ASIATIC MENACE.

SIR I. HAMILTON'S SPEECH,

COMMENT IN BRITAIN,

NEWSPAPER CRITICISM.

London, May 22. Though Sir lan Hamilton lias receiv- | ed many knocks for his outspoken speech, made at the Auckland Town Hall, on the "meeting-place of continents," he had undoubtedly done a service in disclosing to British readers the reality of the Australasian outlook on the Eastern question. Few speeches of late have evoked so much comment, for, as the Dublin Herald says, "the extraordinary preparations for war ■which are lieinr; made by Australians and New Zealanders have been something of a puzzle to the readers of the newspapers hero at Home." The Outlook considers Sir lan's note an exaggerated one, and adds: "In the Pacific the chances are that the future will see a decisive struggle for supremacy between white race and yellow in that part of the world, but it need not necessarily be a world-conflict. For Australia and New Zealand the prospect is fraught with anxiety, and they are not prepared to wait until the Asiatic is ready to strike before putting their defences in order."

The Spectator says: "The Admiralty assumes the Anglo-Japanese alliance to be sufficient protection for Australasia, assures Australia and New Zealand tnat they are safe, and exhorts them to devote their naval enthusiasm to the support of the Imperial squadron some thousands of miles away. But it is essential that the Dominions should have confidence, and this they have not got, whetHiar the Admiralty he. right or not.'' The Glasgow News:'---"Those who are within the danger zone, or very near it, are not to be blamed if they prefer to take what to others differently placed may seem to unduly long views, and make precautions accordingly. There is a British Empire awakening necessary in this connection. There is too much relation to the continuance of things as they nominally are." The Sunderland Echo: "Many people who bring cool and well-balanced minds to the study of the facts are convinced that the Anglo-Japanese alliance is fie finest arrangement conceivable —for the Japanese, with whom in time we slnll have great trouble, perhaps even in India."

The Nation, on the other hand, deplores the general's "blading indiscretion," which it says, " was an incitement to colonial alarms. We attach very little value to the Japanese alliance. No one wishes the grotesque relationship of Italy and Austria w'h'ich arm agaiifet each other in spite of their alliance—to be repeated in the Pacific. Decency ought to forbid such speeches as this by an .lim-iieriai officer.'"