THE FAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1920, Page 8

THE FAR EAST.

AMBITIONS OP JAPAN. / ECONOMIC PENETRATION. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 22The Manchester Guardian draws attention to Japan's loan to China under the agreement for common defence measures in Manchuria and the tenor of the Note announcing Japan's readiness to give up Kiao Chan and withdraw the troop/ guarding (he .Shantung railway. The paper declares this to be a new policy and suggests that Japan feels confronted with a new situation In the Far East. She is therefore initiating a modified policy. She is now endeavoring to secure the paramount position m the Far, East, untrammelled by extraAsiatic interference as the result of Europe's absorption in the war, and is using economic penetration rather than military intervention, such as she is authorised to employ in Siberia under the mandate as .representing the anti-Bol-shevik Powers. Japan now hopes to establish a Far ' Eastern Monroe Doctrine with herself as neutral guardian. ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE. The agent of the Australian Press Association learns that there is little reason to doubt that the Marquis Saionji, when visiting London after the Peace Conference, broached with Lord Curzon the question of renewing the Japanese alliance. Unless the treaty is denounced before July 13 it continues automatically on a year's notice for a further decade. It is believed there will be certain modifications, but in any case the treaty must be reviewed and receive the approval of the League of NationsIt is also suggested whether, in view of the creation of the League of Nations, there is a necessity for the continued alliance and the question may be raised whether the interest of Australasia and Canada will best be served by the renewal of the alliance. The alliance is bitterly resented by China, which supported the League of Nations at Paris in the hope the alliance would be discontinued, while its existence may prevent Anglo-American relations being placed on the most satisfactory footing. FEELING OF THE DOMINIONS. It appears almost certain that negotiations are now proceeding as to whether the alliance shall be renewed, recast, or rescinded. This will depend largely upon the opinion'and experience of the Dominions. The arguments in favor of renewal seem to depend largely upon the insecurity of Northern Australia and Hongkong and to a lesser degree to Singapore. Lord Jellicoe's plan to have a powerful British fleet based on Singapore and the not impossible co-operation of America in opposition to any Japanese attempts at- aggression would effectively guard these points. If the alliance is not renewed it is' unlikely that Japan will seek an alliance with the Powers beaten in the war, from whom she would obtain little advantage. It is understood the War Office and Admiralty are not unfavorably disposed towards the renewal of the alliance. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GRAVE SOCIAL DISORDERS. London, March 22. The only news from Japan is still arriving via Peking and is "dated the 14th. It is stated that there is grave social disorder in Tokio and elsewhere, but direct Foreign Office cipher cables, the latest of which is dated the 20th, do not mention unrest. The authorities assume that the disorders are less serious than the Chinese reports allege. On the other hand the report is probably true that six Japanese regiments have been recalled from Siberia owing to their Bolshevik tenden-cies.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.