RELATIONS IN THE EAST.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 12 August 1932, Page 15

RELATIONS IN THE EAST.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE VIEWPOINTS.

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION . MEETING. At.,last night's meeting of tho Historical Association the opening up of the Far East was dealt with from both the Japaneso and Chinese points of view by two students belonging to those nations. Mr T. I. Kawase, a Japanese student iii residence at Lincoln College, outlined the history and development of Japan, and was followed by Mr W. Wah, of Canterbury College, who detailed the Chincso rolations with foreigners over a long period. Doctor James Hight was in the chair. Mr Kawase began by tracing the origins of the Japanese race back to Caucasia. He said that through acquaintance with a Maori at Lincoln College he had found a great similarity between the sounds and even the words of Japaneso and Maori. History showed that tho Maoris had come from Caucasia, passing to India, Borneo, the islands, and finally to New Zealand. It was held that the Japanese also came from Caucasia, and that somewhere along thia route the migratory bands had divided, some going north to Japan, and others east. This would account for the similarities in language. The Japanese had found a people in Japan when they arrived there, but had conquered and assimilated them, so that actually the Japanese wero a'mixed race in origin.

The Japanese Dynasty. Japan had been ruled by an Emperor descended from one line for 2921 years. This was a most important point in Japanese history, and the people were deeply loyal to their Emperor. Much of the Japaneso civilisation had come from China, including the written characters, and China had been regarded as the elder brother of Japan. In 1500 the first contact with Western civilisation was made, and the Portuguese, Dutch, and English soon visited Japan. The eating of meat-in Japan, ho considered, dated from the entrance of Christianity, which spread very slowly over most of Japan. In 1030 Japan closed her door to foreigners, prohibiting Christianity through fear of being captured by foreigners and losing wealth. It was not till 1867 that relations with the West were resumed, when it was decided to adapt Western civilisation to Japanese needs. Onthe basis of the existing Japanese civilisation educational, legal, military, and naval svstoms were built up along foreign lines, and the change in 665 years had been marvellous. Modern Japan. A visitor to Japan, remarked Mr Kawase, now came to her shores in a large and luxurious ship built in Japan, and he would find the trains and hotels were more comfortable than those in New Zealand. (Laughter.)' Japan had overhead and underground railways, radio stationa and air servioN •xtaadiag to

Korea. Excellent orchestras played all the best European musifc and worldfamous artists now visited Japan. Japanese sportsmen were dong well at the Olympic games, and baseball was very popular. Poverty and over-population were the great problems in Japan. There were 92 million people in a comparatively small area. New markets must be found and it was also necessary to find an outlet for the excess population. These two considerations were behind Japanese policy in Mauihurin. It had' been shown thai Austjalia and New Zealand could support a population

of between 150 and 200 millions. Dealing with New Zealand alone, he said that he was convinced that there was enough space to carry 10 millions. He thought it would be a good thing to have the Japanese in New Zealand because they were such good farmers on it small scaleChina's Relations "with the Wert. Mr Wah traced the contact of Europeans with China from 1516 onwards, dealing with the various wars and treaties and the gradual opening up of trade relations. The Boxer rebellion and the rise of the student class were

detailed by. Mr Wah culminating in the establishment of the Republic in, 1912, and the overthrow of the reigning dynasty. The i'rienuLunjss of America wita China was then mentioned, and th» speaker showed how this had led large increase in her trade. Britain, perhaps because she had always been the leader in China, had been somewhat austere and stern and not so generous as America. Nevertheless ahe had Tutored many concessions and would find an improvement in trade as friendly relations increased.