The Press. Thursday, November 8, 1917. Japan and America.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16053, 8 November 1917, Page 6

The Press. Thursday, November 8, 1917. Japan and America.

} It is impossible to overestimate the importance of tho agreement between ! America and Japan respecting China, j which is announced ns tho fruit of YisJ count Ishii's mission to the States. For j a considerable timo boforo the war j thero -was growing up a strong feeling of mutual distrust in both countries, a feeling sedulously cultivated by Jingoes nnd mischief-makers. The anti- ; Japancso feeling in California, which ceased to have any real justification long ago, owing to tho fidelity of Japan to its "gentlemen's agreement'' to put an end to emigration, was fostered by ' newspapers which nobody was surprised, when war broke out, to find on Germany's side. On the other hand, Japan -was constantly represented ' ns seeking to swallow up China, and with ' most Americans the integrity and independence of China has been something as important as the Monroe Doctrine itself. And during tho war, especially sinco America joined the Entente Powers as a belligerent, tho average ' ... American, to quote Mr David Law- | jceftc®, of jihe New York "Post," has

been "looking askance at Japan, won- " dering why she is keeping her big armies at home, and conjuring up "many thoughts about designs that "Japan may have on China in con- " ncsion -with her alleged readiness to " push for a paramountry in the Far " Eost." 31r Lawrence —he was writing in June last —suggested that the mutual suspicions wero the creation of Gorman agents. Viscount Ishii spoko very definitely on this point in New York on September 23th last, in a passage which gains fresh interest from Mr Lansing's statement, cabled to-day, that, Japan and America now realise that tlicy had both been nearly led into a trap prepared by Germany.

"Tiio agent of Germany in this country and in ours, - ' said Viscount Ishii, " has had as his one purpose tho feeding of our passions, our prejudices, and our distrust on a specially prepared concoction, until, drugged and inflamed, v.'o might liavo taken the irrevocable step over tho edge, and at his leisure the vulture might have fattened upon our remains. Tho strange thing about all thi . misunderstanding in the past years is that we havo discovered a common characteristic in both the Japanese and Americans. We havo both been too confiding, and at the same time too suspicious and sensitive. AVc have harboured tho German and we have received him as a mutual friend. His marvellous, self-centred and ordered existence, his system, his organisation, and his all-porvading selfassertion, coupled with the insistence of the greatness of his fatherland, havo appealed to us, until, in a stato of hypnotic 6leep, we have allowed him to bring us almost to the verge of mutual destruction. This is not a picture overdrawn. It is true."

Tho agreement now drawn up will set on a firm foundation the peace of the Far East. Japan's special position and special interests are recognised, but thore will he no interference with the policy of tho "open door." This happy conclusion of tho troubled relations between the two countries is largely the result of a powerful offensive undertaken by leading Americans and Japanese in the interests of peace and a good understanding, and it cannot fail to have a most beneficial influence upon international relations in the times to come. Australia and Conscription.

Last Sunaay week, October 28 th, was tho anniversary of the referendum which resulted in tho vetoing of the Australian Government's proposal to introduce compulsory service. That date was to have been colebrated by tho Political Labour League, because, as a member of the League executive put it, it "stood out as a beacon light " to the whole world, showing that where " tho people had th-e say in their own " hands they refused to prolong the car- " nival of bloodshed and slaughter that " was being waged over a little bit of " soil that could be placed on a raft and " deposited at Wilcannia, where»the post"man would not be able to find it. - ' That is all that tho war means to the anti-conscriptionists of Australia. Belgium is not a nation foully wronged; Britain is not in the war to destroy the 1 menace to civilisation and to the future peaco of the world which would bo involved in the liborty of Germany to repeat her crime. Belgium is merely a bit of soil, less in area than the constituency represented in the Federal Parliament by more than one anti-con-scriptionist; Britain is fighting merely for possession of this small area of land. Nothing elso is involved in what is simply a carnival of bloodshed over a patch of soil too trifling for a good Australian Socialist to worry his head about. There is nothing at stake that could not be loadod in a dray.

This view of the war cannot now be held by more than a minority in Australia. It is difficult to believe, indeed, that within the last year the real issues, for Australia as for tho rest of tho world, havo not becomo much clearer to the Australian people than formerly. That the temper of the people is now moro like tho temper of tho rest of tho Empire .would appear to be the bolief of tho Federal Government, which according to a cable message received early this morning, has decided to take anothor referendum on tho Conscription question. The position taken up by somo of the Ministers was explained a few days ago by Sir "William Irvine. There was no longer any weight in the consideration 'that to advocate con-

scription would injure recruiting, for voluntary recruiting had plainly become an absolute farce, , which was turning into a humiliating farce. In view of tho Prime Minister's pledge that conscription would not he imposod without a reference to the people, direct legislation could not be considered. What Sir Wm. Irvmo suggested was the passing of a Military Sorvico Act, to come into operation when ordered by a referendum, and his idea was that the measure should not bo confined altogether to men of military age, but should conscribe the efforts and sorvices, in so far as they could bo used, of all men from tho ages of 20 to GO. Mr Hughes also attached tho condition that conscription should not bo reconsidered unless some disaster attended the British arms or tho tide of battle turned against tho Allies. The state of Russia, Sir "VTm. Irvine said, complotely fulfilled this condition. And Mr Hughes himself now uses the gravest language regarding Italy. rt is evident in any case that without conscription Australia will fail signally : to bear her part worthily in tho war.