THE RIOTS IN JAPAN.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 61, 9 September 1905, Page 4

THE RIOTS IN JAPAN.

Reverence and obedience to the will of the Mikado has been generally accepted as the attitude of the Japanese towards their ruler, but this widespread impression has received a rudo shock during tho present week in tho determined hostility of a considerable section of the people to the terms of peace. The news will no doubt lie received with grim satisfaction at St. Petersburg, and will be equally deplored by the friends of Japan. "Wo are going back to stones, and perhaps to dynamite," aaid M. Sato at the conclusion of tho Peace" Conference ; and this unpleasant anticipation goes to show that those in authority must have anticipated some strong manifestations of popular indignation. At present the discontents can only see that on the eve of a great and crushing victoiy over Linevitch the Government has abated enormously the terms that muat have been met after that event;

but what, as we fancy, they have yet to realise is — as we have already pointed out — that by the surrender made they have secured a new alliance with Britain that will require their * ally to proteot Japanese interests against all-comers. When this great gain has reached the understanding of the Japanese people, there will probably be contented acceptance of the terms of the treaty. It is a curious reflection that the hectoring restlessness of Kaiser William was probably the primary cause of the Japanese riots of to-day, bub in our view, it was to muzzle him that the British Cabinet made Japan secure in the fruits of victory. Already he must begin to realise that his tenure of Kiauchau rests upon the good-will of the allies. Certainly he will be in a cleft stick if Britain abandons Weihaiwei.