WHAT JAPAN IS DOING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10140, 18 January 1911, Page 4

WHAT JAPAN IS DOING.

One item of news in the files to hand from the steamer Yawatu Maru, which arrived in Sydney last week, is %i more than passing interest. It is published on the authority of the Liberal News Agency of Tokio, and reads:—"lt is true that the attention of the Japanese is at present being directed towards the south. Since Mr Takosi paid a visit to those parts the Japanese have begun to pay special .attention to the interests of the South Sea. Islands. Since it is not possible .for the Japanese to extend their interests any further north, it has been found necessary that some measures should be adopted that Japanese influence may be extended towards the southern portion of the hemispnere. The southward progress of the Japanese must also be considered seriously. Books are now being published on this question, and in fact there are indications among Japanese business men that they will found an. association for the purpose of developing trade with the South Seas. If the attention of the leading Japanese is directed towards the Interests in the South Seas, it may be expected that tjie results will prove quite ; successful, and something may come out of such arrangements which will give birth to trading companies which may resemble the East India Company, established some time ago by the English people .in order to develop trade with India, It seems to us that the suggestions made by Dr Takeosi under this subject in one of his hooks must be carefully studied j

by those interested in the movements of the Japanese, because a perusal will afford a splendid opportunity to open up trade with the South Sea Islands which would prove quite advantageous. Such being the case, it is hoped that the people who are interested in the. creation of the South Sea trade will join their capital to represent tEe object in view."