AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 7

AUSTRALIA AND THE PACIFIC

OPINION IN JAPAN CO-WORKER FOR MONROE DOCTRINE.

Cable-messages were re.ceiv.ed ia-Japan giving the substance of Mr. Hughes's speech a* a banquet, in New York, wherein Mr. Hughes appealed' to the American nation to support We dream of Australia for the adoption of a Monroe doctrine to be put • forward at the peace conference. Many Japanese papers have made comments..

The Osaka Aeabi confesses that it feels a little uneasy regarding Mr. Hughes's reference to the establishment of an Australian Monroe doctrine in the South Pacific. Judging from Mr. yHughes's remarks the paper considered that the islands on the east and -north coasts of Australia must either be controlled ■by Australia herself or be placed under the control of another brave and civilised) State. It appeared that Mr. Hughes was willing to let such "a state as he described into the pale of the Australian.l Monroe doctrine. "Although the Australian Premier sought the support of the United States for the Australian Monroe doctrine, there are ample signs that America has long ago abandoned such _a negative policy as 'the Bloriroe doctrinej" adds, the paper. . .' . In the edition of the Osaka Asahi, of7th June, the paper resumed the discussion.

"Mr. Hughes's speech," says the journal, "contains no points of novelty, being an expression of political sentiment I which is believed to have been long prevalent among the 'Australians, but, nevertheless, it deserves a great deal of attention from the Japanese as emanating from a statesman of. high position in Australia, at a time. when Japan is cooperating with Australia for "'the. victory of the Allied cause. ... . ." • INTEEESTS IN* COMMON. jThe paper adds : "Japan has with Australia as many interests in common ! as the latter has with America, regarding peace, and the balance of power in the Pacific. Moreover, Japan is an Ally I. of. Britain, .the mother country of, the^ Australians, and, in fact, it is due to"*" this alliance that Japan declared war upon Germany, and is now protecting various islands in the South Pacific, formerly held by Germany. In these circumstances, Australian statesmen should be as ready to select Japan as their coworker at the Peace Conference as America. This is not-the attitude assumed by Mr. Hughes. Not only did he exclude Japan, bufc he even hinted at regarding Japan as a future enemy of Australia. • / .

."This insinuation gives a very disagreeable impression to the Japanese; it is a sure manifestation of the antipathy of the Australians towards the Japanese, and even, conceding that in a highlydeveloped democratic country like Australia statesmen are sometimes swayed by unreasonable sentiment of this kind, the attitude of Mr. Hughes regarding Japan, who is actually • fighting Germany in the Allied cause, as:a future enemy . of. : Australia, .must be denounced as most improper. Indeed,- his utterance can be' described as being as indiscreet' as the 'statement alleged to have been made by Count Terauchi to a contributor of the Outlook. . SENTIMENT .IN AUSTRALIA. "AntWfapariese sentiment has been prevalent in. Australia/ the United States, and Canada, and '■ this sentiment has often manifested itself in a discriminating policy by. the Governments concerned against. the Japanese. That such a policy is not only inimical to the ma.'terial interests of the Japanese,'; but is highly, objectionable to the Japanese as. a civilised nation is actually recognised by impartial publicists of. these countries. This being the case, Japan has a legitimate right to protest strongly-against such a discrimination both from the viewpoint of international etiquette and international justice.: It is, indeed; desirable for her to assert her rights in' this respect on the proper occasion after the.war. '■■■■-■

"It must be most emphatically deprecated by the Japanese, no matter under what circumstances or in what place it was delivered, inasmuch as the assertion of her rights must necessarily be made in strict accord with the spirit of international justice; it is important that before taking any step in this direction the Japanese should clearly indicate to the world that Japan has not the slightest idea of pursuing aggressive designs. JAPANESE DIPLOMACY. "Though it is quite easy to refute the chimerical theory ofHhe 'Yellow Peril,' it is a pity the bureaucratic diplomacy of the Japanese Government is liable to give foreigners a mistaken impression of Japan's craftiness and iniquity. It must also bp pointed out that the statement of Count Terauchi regarding the possibilities of an alliance between Japan and Germany, even though it was made hypotheticnlly. is a serious obstacle to a strong protest being lodged against unfair treatment accorded to Japanese by certain countries." In a later edition this paper says that the yellow menace hinted at is utterly unfounded, 'and does not, merit refutation. "But the cause of the suspicion entertained by him lies no doubt in the militaristic policy of the Terauctii Mm istry. The viciousness of that- policy ii apparent even to the people of this country, and we cannot hope ioi tho good reception of this countrj into the comity of the world . as long a the Terauchi Ministry stays in power."