The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1919. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1919. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

Australia has for a long time passed been obsessed with a fear of what she termed "the yellow peril," meaning Japanese encroachment. The same fear is,apparent in the remarks of Mr. Hughes, the Federal Premier, made in a recent interview, although he clothed his observations in diplomatic language, yet he plainly said that Australia did not want the Japanese in her direction, and intimated that as long as they kept away harmonious relations could be maintained. In view of the fact that Japan is now one of the Great Powers and an ally of Britain whofee services on the sea have been of immense value during the war, it is matter for regret that Mr. Hughes should have gone out of his way to wound Japan's feelings. Unfortunately the Commonwealth Premier has a weakness for creating sensations and posing in the limelight, hence his indiscretion, which indicates that he is lacking in broad-minded statesmanship. It is rather disconcerting to find the Dominions' representative making blatant statements to magnify their importance, but though a politician may attain notoriety in a moment by sheer audacity, it takes generations of culture to produce a first rank statesman—men of cultured, broad minds who know the world | and have made an exhaustive ■ study of its problems; men who have learned when to keep silence, when to speak; men of wisdom and farseeing sagacity; men who. when driven to use a weapon choose the rapier and despise the bludgeon; men whose mission is to placate and not tn cause irritation. It is not surprising to find that a leading Tokio journal complains that Australia is trying to monopolise the New Guinea trade, and generally attempting to prevent the development of Japanese trade in the South Seas, and endeavoring to check the southward advance of Japan. The paper enlarger. on the assistance rendered by Japan in protecting Australia and New Zealand by her warships, and facilitating the. transport of iroops. No such reminder should have beea necessary, and it only shows how the Japanese are smarting under he vitriol of Mr Hughes' tongue. Japan does not intend to submit to Mr. Hughes' dictation and her dignity as a Great Power would suffer if she did. For valuable services rendered, Japan may justly look for compensation, and though there may be a difference of opinion as to the form that recognition should take, f.hcrs can be uo question that it should be such as vr'uSi be satisfactory to our loyal ally. The paper also claims that when the disposition of the German colonies is dealt with at the Peace Conference, particularly those south of the Equator, any exclusive policy should be opposed by all means, and Japou should firmly insist upon her rights, adding that the entire area of the islands south ox the Equator 3s 90,000 square rauks, whereon the Japanese could develop p«acc£iilljf, economically and naturally. Mr. Hughes, whei, interviewed by American journalists, stated bis iateatioa to strenuously oppose Japanese annexation of the Marshall and Caroline Islands. Apparently President "Wilson rapports this view, as he advocates the Pacific Islandr. being internationalised under the League oi Nations, wit'c Britain &3 the mandator? Power, charged by the Leag'cf. with administration and control Possibly this would be a good diplomatic solution, but whether Britain, Japan or Australia controls these islands it is probable that complications will, sooner or later, arise. Mr. Murdoch fires a timely reminder that the Commonwealth Government in 1915 accepted the solution that Britain and Japan should use the line of the Equator to divide their phnrc? of influence, Austral i« -md New Zealand annexing the islands . southward and Japan those north

o£ tlia Equator, but Mr. Hughes does not agree to this plan, nor will he, apparently accept Japan as a near neighbor under any circumstances. The only other plan suggested is that America should be the mandatory Power for all the German pocsesaions in the Pacific, but America is hardly likely to accept sucli a responsibility in view of the Monroe doctrine and the attitude of Australia. That Japan must be compensated is certain, so that if the German colonies in the Pacific are to be kept free of Japanese, then they must have compensation elsewhere. It is unfortunate this question has arisen in such a way as to increase the difficulties of the Peace Conference in arriving at a decision acceptable to all concerned. The attitude of Mr. Hughes may play into the hands of those who are inclined to return the colonies to Germany in the not very distant future, and that is a danger which should be guarded against most strongly. The matter is one for the Conference to decide, and the Dominions' representatives would be well advisdd to make haste slowly over their demands, and to drop the hostile attitude adopted towards Japan. If the problem is decided strictly on a basis of justice, Australia may not be found to have any greater claim than Japan, but looking at the matter as a question of policy it would seem that the suggested equatorial line division would meet the sase provided that Japan, Britain and the Dominions agree to equal trading rights and the control is so prescribed that it will be directed primarily to foster the productivity of the islands and the welfare of the natives, freed from German control and penetration. The Dominions' main object should be to gain security from German aggressbn and with that aim as a basis a satisfactory solution of the problem is obtainable under one or other of the plans suggested.