JAPAN’S GREAT LOSS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1921, Page 4

JAPAN’S GREAT LOSS.

The assassination of M. Hara, the Premier of Japan, cannot but he universally deplored. At no time in the history of that country has there been such an urgent need for its affairs to be in the hands of wise and far-seeing statesmen as at present. It is Japan and her policy to-day that looms large in international affairs, especially in relation to matters that will be considered at the Washington Conference. M. Hara has proved an ideal exponent of Japanese spirit, and has given convincing testimony of the desire of his country for fair treatment at the hands of other nations, while he strove diligently and eloquently to bring about a clear understanding as to the trend of Japanese aims and aspirations. In the interview he gave to a Press representative only two hours before a demented student launched him into Eternity, M. Hara said: “It is rny desire that Japan’s wishes shall be made clear, that her delegates to the Washington Conference will be frank and open, and I hope any misunderstandings will be swept away .... Th® Japanese people are just a® anxious for the limitation of arms as the United States and England. T am confident it will be but a short time when Japan’s motives will be understood through the action of her delegates.” M. Hara did not fail to note there the strong tendency that existed to misunderstand the true Japanese spirit, and since the Pacific problem "became a burning question he persistently endeavored to eliminate the misunderstanding of his country’s aims, and in that direction he has proved a worthy Premier and patriot of a country where patriotism burns fiercely and intensively. Differences of opinion exist as to what has been called the Japanese menace, by reason of the penetrative power of the Japanese on foreign soil, but there can be no two opinions that the Anglo-Japanese Alliance has been faithfully and honorably carried, out. In recent years Japan has been well served in the matter of her leading statesmen, among whom M. Hara has deservedly taken a high place, and the testimony of M. Shidehara falls short rather than exaggerate® the Premier’s worth: “A great and good man.” The perils of high office have to be faced by kings, presidents, statesmen and others. M. Hara was brutally and wantonly murdered by a mentally ill-balanced youth, and the world is the poorer for the loss. If it is possible to obtain any good out of this horrible act it will only be by its impress on the conference that the late Japanese Premier was striving as much for world peace as for the honor of his country, and that his last message may be the means of enabling Japanese policy to be removed from the arena of misunderstanding and the motives actuating that policy may be freed from suspicion, and that much abused nation be enabled to work out its destiny in all friendship with other nations. That was M. Hara’s great aim, and its accomplishment will be the greatest and most enduring tribute to his memory that can be created. His view® as to the settlement of both the Shantung and Siberian problems are on record, and they are worthy of the utmost attention. Cut off suddenly at the height of his useful career, M. Hara leaves a legacy of accomplishment for his auccessors. His work for Japan ha® been characterised by great enlightenment and sound statesmanship, and his example should be a great stimulant to his colleagues and successors to carry on the patriotic and peaceable work for which M. Hara did so much and was not spared to bring to fruition.