A Japanese View.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6202, 24 February 1904, Page 2

A Japanese View.

In remarkably frank language Baroj Hsyashi, Japanese Minister in London, summed up the situation as follows a few weeks ago : " We have received no pledgei from any country that, in the event ol defeat, it will stap in and save us from being absorbed by Russia. We cannot; count oven in extremities on the armed support of any nation in the world. Ifc would be a struggle to the death. Perhaps we are not strong enough to fight Russia. There are two opinions about that. If we were beaten Russia would take Corea and Manchuria by right of conquest, and possibly Japan. No power on earth could then dislodge her from Central China and all the Far East. I am sure it is better to go to war when you know you are in the right, even when defeat is possible, than to see your independence submerged under a continual aggression, that is bound ' to absorb you eventually. The American aation in enforcing the opening of thjj^^t chuxian ports was a splendid exaf^^^Bj honest diplomacy. It was a str^^^^fl ward step, which contrasts favoura^^^^H Russian methods). No other natioin^^^H Great Britain, when the British Ad^^^H bought tho two Chilian warships, hfj^^^^f any practical step to live up to its <^^^^| tic demands upon Russia anenfe East We believe we are fighting^^^^H matic battlejon behalf of America e^^^^H Britain.