"FILIBUSTER REVOLUTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 116, 18 May 1932, Page 6

"FILIBUSTER REVOLUTIONS.

k Japanese official, referring to the new situation in Manchuria, recently remarked, We are in no hurry. We have no canal to build. This was a hit at America.; an allusion to the revolution in Panama, which paved the way to the construction of the canal across the isthmus. It was not the only filibuster revolution in winch the United State* Government had played a hand and the parallel between Manchuria and Panama i. to sonic extent justified. The. Panama revolution occurred during Roosevelt's term of office and it is recorded that that President, when he 'telegraphed to his agents at Panama to inquire how the revolution mis getting on, received the reply that it had not commenced yet. It uie story is true, no further evidence 4e quired to reveal the important part played by Uncle Sam in engineering that episode of history. At that time Panama°wa« a part of Colombia, and when the Colombian Government sent troops to suppress the revolt in '■ the isthmue province they were prevented by American forces froni takm any action. The revolution and separation of Panama from Colombia were rapidly; accomplished, the conclusion of a treaty between the new republic and the United States, granting a concession for the construction of the canal was almost as rapid, and suggests the fact that the treaty was already drawn up and ready foi sig nature before the revolution commenced. In tact one American paper published a ]™'«" s «£" toon entitled "Treaties Concluded While You Wait." Perhaps the Government of Colombia trie to drive 1 a hard bargain with tktme States with regard to the terms on which they would "rant the canal concession; but ill tins respect "they over-reached themselves. _ Japan now officially declares that she is willing to recognise the new Government of Manchuria provided that a guarantee is given that the subeets of the Mikado will be duly protected. This s all "eyewash"; Japan will get any guarantee that she'wants from the puppet Government she has set ..,. in Manchuria. A Japanese official is reported to have declared that "•«""*£.{£ not want Manchuria, at any price. Doubtless this is true, for they are not paying any price for it. We heard the same, talk with regard to Koiea. First of all, the' province was an integial part of China One of the conditions imposed by the victor after the first war between Japan and China was that Korea should be declared independent. Russia then stepped in, and for some rears there was a conflict between the two Powers as to who should control the peninsula. After the war between Russia and Japan tie latter again scored, and one of the peace conditions was that Russia should "recognise the preponderance of Japanese interests in Korea In the language of diplomacy this meant that Japan was to'be allowed a free hand in that country, without any interference on the part of Russia. Thus Korea became a Japanese sphere ot mnnence the only other countries with special interests (China and Russia) having been eliminated From a sphere, of influence Korea passed to become a protectorate of Japan, and soon afterwards it was annexed outright. It now forms an integral part of the Mikado's dominions. And history is likely to repeat itself in the case of Manchuria. ' . The American Government has always provetL one ofi the greatest obstacles to the extension of Japanese political ambitions in tJie Far &a«t. Perhaps, however. Japanese action in Manchuria cannot be logically opposed by the United States; too many precedents can bo cited against her. Besides the Panama Canal zone, it was by means of filibuster revolutions that she obtained possession of Hawaii and Texas (indirectly leading to the annexation of the half of Mexico). Filibuster : revolutions (or revolts) fomented by Americans led to the wresting, from Spain of Cuba, which is now virtually an American protectorate. The sinkiiKv of the" Maine ill Havana Harbour was only an opportune incident which precipitated a movement which had been developing for many years. — J - -^ • k^KlJi..