The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1917. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3193, 18 September 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1917. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC

Not only in material results, accomplished or in prospect, but in the light it has thrown upon tho character and aims of many nations and upon the principles they are prepared to assert and uphold, the war is doing a great deal to clear the way for new international understandings, and is creating a demand for the revision of past policies. To a very great extent theso developments born of the war mako for better and more intimate relations between nations. The barbarous attempt made by Germany and her satellites to enslave a great part of humanity has in a wonderful decree stimulated other nations to nobler progress, and the possibilities thus awakened are nowhere of richer promise than as they relate to the countries bordering tho Pacific. It is well within tho facts to say that the outlook of the white and .yellow races to whom the Pacific is a common highway, has been transformed by the war. In particular tho loyal part that Japan has taken with the Allies against Germany has gone far to eliminate problems whion once loomed menacingly and to open now prospects of international amity. In Australia and 'New Zealand _ at least, if not in other British Pacific dominions, Japan was formerly regarded with suspicion, developing at times into hostility. She is regarded in a very different spirit today. A similar change is at work in America, though it has not gone as 'far as in this part of the world. No one would pretend that antiJapanese feeling has disappeared in California, or is likely to for a long time to come, but it has been said recently in the United State, and with every appearance of sincerity, that relations between that country and Japan have never been better than they are at the present day. There is no doubt that beforo the war the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was regarded in some parts of the British dominions as an anomaly and a doubtful departure in foreign dicy,; •whereas to-day a growing y of opinion in the dominions most closely concerned favours tlw perpetuation of the allianoo, if that is possible without sacrificing;eesentiaL features of national policy. It is well established also that the dominant opinion in tho United States, whatever may be the position in particular States, equally favours an attempt to roach a friendly understanding, with Japan. Insufficient allowance for tho extent to \vhich the war has stimulated friendly feeling for his country both in the British dominions and the United States is an apparent defect in an otherwise interesting article on Japanese foreign relations, from the pen of Mr. Yoneda (a member of the Japanese House of which was published in our _ news columns yesterday. In assuming as he does that prospects of maintaining the Ang-10-Japanese Alliance must be measured by the past iittituro of the British dominions, Mr. Yoneda is ignoring the entry of new 'factors of very great importance. "When all things are considered," ho remarks, "it appears very probable that tho anti-Japanese attitude of Australia will have a very serious effect on the alliance when tho rights of the British colonies in framing British diplomacy are more fully established in the very near future." Mr. Yoneda regards tho prospect with unconcealed regrot. He lays strong emphasis upon tho fact that while Germany is utterly unreliable in her international obligations, "the British have the admirable characteristic of observing their obligations." Even if this distinctioa did not exist; he holds that Japan would be bound for many reasonsto prefer a continued alliance with Great Britain to one with Germany. But he considers, in brief, that the closer bonds which the war has established between Britain and America, added to _ anti-Japanese sentiment in the British dominions, will result ultimately in Japan being squeezed out of the international partnership in which she has at present an honoured place. This certainly does much less than justice to the spirit in which British I people regard their loyal and steadfast Eastern Ally. A polioy which would amount to courting Japan while she was useful and casting her of£ when her aid was no longer needed is no more likely 'to find favour in the British dominions than in tho Mother Country. Tho war has at once justified the Anglo-Japaneso Alliance and given it a new and broader foundation; and though a permanent friendly understanding between nations as widely divergent in racial characteristics as the Anglo-Saxons and the Japanese cannot bo cheerfully taken for granted, there is no reason why it should not be established if the necessary spirit of accommodation is manifested on either side. The war has to a very notable extent eliminated mutual distrust and suspicion and substituted mutual respect and liking, and much may be built upon the foundation thus provided if it is wisely

utilised. _ 11, is true that the exclusive immigration laws in this country and iu Australia which have given rise to past antagonisms represent a national policy we feel bound at all costs to maintain, hut this should not prevent the development of fricudly relations. Japan mot the United States in,a spirit of reasonable accommodation over tlw selfsame issue during President Hoosevelt's administration. The two countries entered into what is known as the "Gentleman's Agreement," under which the migration of Japanese coolies to tho United States was terminated, while th» American Government undertook to safeguard the treaty rights of Japanese already resident in its territory. Japan, it was stated not long ago by the Now York Outlook, has scrupulously kept her part of the "Gentleman's Agreement," and the anti-Japancso agitation which has broken out at intervals on the Pacific Coast during President AVilSOn's term centres on the treatment of Japanese who entered tho United States before tho agreement was made. Since there aro comparatively few Japanese in Australia and Tiardly auy in this country, it should "be no very difficult matter for the British dominions to enter as parties into a friendly agreement with Japan on tho subject of migration and also in regaitl jo trade conditions, dictated by th'e necessity ol imposing some restrictions upon importation of certain classes of goods produced by cheap labour. AVo cannot vary our immigration policy in order to gratify Japan, nor can we throw oxir markets unreservedly open to a country' whose economic conditions are so widely different from our own. But within the limits thus set it should be quite possible to bury past misunderstandings, which united action in face of a common peril has already clone muoli to dissipate, and arrivo at cordial relations with a nation which deserves all tho consideration that can possibly bo extended to a faithful ally.