The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Erening rems,Morning Rems and The Echo. TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1010. PEACE IN THE EAST.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 169, 19 July 1910, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Erening rems,Morning Rems and The Echo.

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1010. PEACE IN THE EAST.

Tor the cause thai laci-a assistance, For tie wrong that needs resistance, For tile future ia the distance. And the good that too can do-

From the comments on the new RussoJapanese agreement that have appeared recently in German newspapers, it would seem that Germany is, for the ■moment, to some extent reconciled to the situation in the Far East. But it is extremely improbable that the Kaiser and the advocates of German colonial expansion will 'be content to watch in silence the development of a policy that most obviously has for its ultimate purpose the exclusion of the W T estem

Powers from participation in the advantages that should accrue to the world at large from the transformation of China and the growth of Japan. Germany, it must not be forgotten, was the first Power to establish herself in an independent position in China; and by practically seizing Kiao-chau, and subsequently securing the wealthy province of Shantung, she set an example which Russia followed by annexing Port Arthur and occupying Manchuria, and thus precipitated the Russo-Japanese War. The triumph of Japan, of course, defeated Germany's bold bid for a colonial empire in the Far East. But the Kaiser has by no means resigned himself to his disappointment, aud it i=3 not at all likely that Germany will be satisfied to allow Japan 'to reap all the fruite of "the awakening of China," even if at

the present moment active interference is too dangerous to contemplate.

The position that Japan has now taken up in the Far East is quite intelligible, and from her own point of view easily justifiable. She realises probably far more clearly than her European critics that Russia.; strength was •only crippled and not destroyed in the great war, and she knows that on the earliest opportunity Russia will attempt to regain the position she has lost in Manchuria. It is therefore necessary for Japan to keep her army and navy in constant readiness to repel any forward step tli/t Russia might conceivably make; while Russia to hold her own must also strain her material and military resources almost to breaking point. The position in Manchuria is a

case of "stale-mate," for no safe move is left to either Power just now. Under the circumstances, Japan has taken the natural course of concluding with Rus-

sia an agreement to maintain the "cstatus-quo" in Manchuria; and to guard against outside interference she has even bound , herself to assist Russia in case any other Power should attempt to oust itufieia or Japan from Manchuria, or to transfer the province back again into China's hands. We have nothing to say at present about the morality of this agreement. But for the time being, it certainly eliminates the most serious clement of danger in the situation —the immediate possibility of the renewal of the conflict between Russia and Japan. What Japan wants above everything else to consolidate her position is Time; and the respite afforded her by her " entente" with Russia may give her all she needs. For with the passing of every year it is becoming increasingly evident that Japan, looking to the future, expects to hold her ground in. the Far East, not through her own strength alone, but through the instrumentality of a transformed and regenerated China. It is true that the Chinese themselves arc unexpectedly developing a sense of national unity and patriotism, that may quite conceivably throw Japan's calculations out of order. But so far Japan seems to - see no insuperable obstacle to her ambitions in Chinese nationalism, and she evidently expects to control the situation in the Far East in the future with the complete co-operation of China, The potential military strength of China is, of course, incalculably great; and Japan is quite prepared to raise the cry of "the East for the Orientals" if the other Eastern nations will submit themselves to her leadership. The end of all this lies far ahead of us; but in the meanwhile Japan is straining every nerve to secure her hold upon China and to strengthen her own industrial and financial resources in preparation for the coming struggle. Already Japan is a power to be reckoned with among the world's commercial rulers; and no more remarkible evidence ■of her growing wealth and strength can ■be desired than the readiness displayed by the Western Powers, and more especially by Germany, to conciliate her and to offer her concessions by way of commercial agreements so as to secure a foothold in her valuable markets. What England, with her doors already thrown wide for Free Imports, can offer as a set-oil' to such inducements does not at present appear. But tlicug-h Japan is probably as thankful to England for her support as the limitations of diplomatic gratitude will allow, we cvn bo surej thai the Japanese will never give v.-; anything for iiuthing, and tlriu when Ihu Anglo-Japanese Alliance has served it; I purpose it will not last a day longer I than the cgarenience of Janaa ui-v toquire.