DRAMA OF THE EAST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2732, 30 July 1915, Page 4

DRAMA OF THE EAST.

BROWN AND YELLOW RACES.

JAPAN'S DESIGNS ON CHINA.

The " Yahsiya" and other Chinese - papers, have printed a long artielo dealing with the dangerous condition of the Chinese Republic, on account of . the ascendancy oi: Japan (says the Pekin correspondent of the Central China "Post"). The article states that "owing to the remoteness of the United Sta.tes and tho elimination of . German interests' in the Republic, in addition to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, there is a report that Russia, in..: view of the strong position of her former enemy, is going to conclude a defensive and offensive alliance with Japan, while, on the other hand, France is reported to be in favour of the cession of her Indo-China territory (this report has been denied) to Japan, in return for military assistance in, Europe." Hence China is-quite helpless in her dealings with her powerful neighbour, and it is firmly believed by educated Chi nose that the first'thing : the Tokio Government will do is to compel the Pekin Government to sign* a Sino-Japancse financial alliance so as: to secure control of Chinese finances -,-, and then, financially and politically,. China will he'under the heel of Japan.

The Japanese papers arc urging the upholding of the existing Government in Pekin in the hope of influencing, President Yuan to give way to the Japanese proposals willingly and quietly. The document adds that Japan will now oppose.the dismemberment of the Republic by the Powers,, because she wants to swallow . the country entirely herself under the name of protecting the territorial integrity of China. It concludes fay urging the Chinese Government to pay special attention to the trend of the general situation concerning China, and lose no 1 time to immediately reorganise and put its house in order, so that by the united efforts of < the Government and people they mn.y be able to serve the ; independence, .integrity, and sovereign rights of China, which* cannot bo saved' from destruction by a divided house:.; v ■ ;

.This question is now under nogotia--- i tion between the Japanese' Legation J and the AVaichiaopu, and- it is iioped, a/modification will be made by. the Japanese Government, concerning the personnel of the Customs.,. The Chinese Press expresses surprise at the non-participation of the British Legation in the negotiations, on the ground I that British troops and warships toolc [part in the reduction of Tsingtao.. Moreover, the universal Chinese opinion is in favour of the participation of British authorities in the settlejment of affairs concerning Shantung. ' Chinese papers regard this attitude as showing Britain will have no voice' in the final disposal of the Tsingtao qtiestion. The attitude of Mr A.- Agleii, Inspector-General of the, Maxitime Customs Service, is highly praised by the Chinese people, though the British Government and Sir J. Jordan do not. support him. - -" in / educated Chinese circles this, passive attitude of the British Govern-, ment is taken to mean that Britain is prepared to forsake part of her great interests in China in return for Japanese military assistance. Chinese officials say that, although the British Legation is not taking an active part,, in the negotiations over the Customs ( question, nevertheless, in order to prevent dislocation of the excellent service so skilfully organised;by the . late Sir R. Hart, influence is being, brought .to bear in Tokio, so iit^isr-sin-cerely hoped Japan will modify her demands. The appointment--'of Mr Tachibana as Commissioner of the Customs has been definitely agreed to by the Tokio Government, and the onlyquestion now is the appointment of not; less than tV3 per cent, of Japanese on the staff. There is a report that this last question Mill be settled by the appointment of Japanese employees of the. Chinese Service by Mr Aglen, ift- . stead of men from the Japanese Ma-ri- • time Customs. .

The Chinese- salt merchants are alarmed at the report, that Japatie.se' salt merchants-'from Tokio and Formosa aro endeavouring to . establish a salt factory at Kaiochow for the manufacturing of salt to he sold, in Chinese territory, thus disturbing the Chinese salt system. They-will:shortly petition the. Government, because under German administration Kiaochow, salt eoiild not be sold outside Tsingtao. This matter, they say, concerns theQuintuple Loan of 25,000,000.. „