The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1919. JAPANESE CLAIMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1919. JAPANESE CLAIMS.

Of late Japan has been assuming a somewhat high-handed attitude with regard to her claims for racial equality, and to Kaiochau and Shantung. The latest phase of the trouble, if there is any reliance to be placed on the report of the New York "World's Paris correspondent's interview with a Japanese official, has all the elements of a crisis, for it is said that Japan will withdraw from the Peace Conference and make her own arrangements with Germany if her'position on the matters in dispute is not improved. There is no doubt that Japan feels keenly the action of the Conference in declining to establish the principle of racial equality. That Mr. Hughes' persistent and vigorous opposition thereto is mainly the cause for the amendment being rejected seems perfectly clear, but that does not absolve the other peace delegates from their share of the responsibility. The question, however, appears to be very simple, and it would seem that if Japan was worthy to be an ally of Britain her people should be treated accordingly. Having risen to the status of a Great Power, Japan is entitled to be regarded as a friend and not as an alien. The matter of racial equality was not taken into consideration when the alliance was formed, and the services rendered by the Japanese during the war should at least entitle them to that measure of equality which Australia so strongly opposes. Sooner or later Japan was bound to stand up for rights that her status justified, and the Peace Conference uf

forded a favorable opportunity.! It is probable, however, that if the crux of the whole matter is reached it will be found that Japan is playing the racial card in order to further her domination of China, so that the Conference is bound to take this aspect into consideration. A certain amount of friction between Japan and China has existed ever since the Japanese capture of Tsing-Tau. The Japanese ultimatum of August 15, 1914, to Germany required Germany to deliver on a date not later than September 15 to the Imperial Japan ese authorities, without condition or compensation, the entire leased territory of liiao-Chau, with a view to the eventual restoration of the same to China. America was somewhat uneasy about the inten tions of Japan, and so on August 24, 1914, Marquis Okuma made a declaration to the effect that as Premier of Japan he had stated, and wished to state again, to the people of America, and of the world, that Japan had no ulterior motive, no desire to secure more territory, no thought of depriving China or other people of anything which they then possessed. A specific undertaking was given to return Kiao-Chau to China eventually, and so much was affirmed in an official communication issued by the British Press Bureau. But when the Japanese Diet met in December of the same year, and a deputy interpellated the Government in regard to China, Baron Kato, the Foreign Minister, replied to the effect that the question of the return of Tsing-Tau to China was to be settled in the future, and he was not in a position to give a definite reply to the question. He denied that Japan had entered into any agreement with any foreign country in regard to TsingTau. Apparently the Japanese Government took the view that the promise to restore Tsing-Tau to China was conditional on the peaceful surrender of the colony by Germany, and that Germany's armed resistance released Japan from her pledge and restored her discretion. This explains why Japan threaten? to make her own arrangements with Germany, but jt does not even then go to the root of the matter, which is to be found in the efforts the Chinese are making to_ free themselves from Japanese dictation arid influence. Apparently Japan, recognising the trend of events, is putting up a bluff in order to obtain her ends, but it may be that in her desire to score a win she may over-reach herself. When all the circumstances are considered it would seem that Japan is not well advised in adopting an attitude that will play into the hands of the opponents of racial equality; rather should she exercise diplomatic tactics and give her utmost support to the efforts of the Entente Powers to secure peace, for Japan's commercial expansion depends on her friendship with those Power?. She has nothing to gain but worthless promises from Germany, while the Allies are in a position to for ward her aspirations. At any ra;e the Conference might well recousider the racial question, for with that disposed of Japan would hav.to trust to the League of Nations to settle her other claims.