JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 28, 1 February 1919, Page 9

JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC

(By Coleman Phillips.)

Wellington people may not quite understand Mr. Massey's insistence upon Sir Joseph Ward having- a seat at tho Peace Conference. A few words from me may help to clear this matter up. The reason i 8 that the freedom and liberty of New Zealand and Australia aro at stake, and more than one voice at the Peace Conference is necessary to uphold our interests. A secret treaty appears to have been entered into between tho British Government and Japan, givinjr Japan tho Pacific Islands north of tho Knuator, viz., tho Carolines, Marshall*, Kadaoks, Ralicks. and half of the Gilberts. If Japan gets these islands, our . future liberty is gone. 1 regret to say so, but, as a private citizen of New Zealand, since 1872 (when 1 first began my Pacific Island work) I liavo always found that the Homo Government did not appear to care for Australasian interests in the Pacific; but, more or less readflv. agreed to other nations acquiring1 many of tho islands, which, under tho Polynesian scheme of 1873, I had naturally thought would fall to us, and our then trading schooners ; Any person of common sense travelling among the islands, as I did then, would have thought tho time. But no. Those islands were given to Germany, and the Sydney and Melbourne trading vessels wero turned back. Our New Zealand traders also beat about there, but we confined our efforts thon more to tho central and southern islands. „ j I will say nothing- about Franc© and New Caledonia, and the trouble which arosa over that matter. Let France have it—we noed have no fear of France. But now Japan is to get half the Gilberts (iutor alia), which will bring her within easy distance of Auckland, iSvdney, and Honolulu—for these islands are in a very central position in tho Pacific. Shall wo in silenco tolerate that? I strongly urge no! Every large town in.. Australasia should call public meetings to support what Mr. Hughes and Air. Massey are contending for. And if a public meeting is called in Wellington, and a fairly large map of the Pacific provided, I wiU attend it, and explain the interests that are at stake. Mr. Lloyd Goorgo is annoyed at Mr. Hiighes's protests against the Japanese secret treaty. I say, let vis *U support Mr. Hughes in this to the utmost. Let anyone take a map of tho Pacifio and see for himself. Ho will find that Japan by getting- tho islands north of tho Equator, advances to within 2000 miles of Auckland, and to about the same distance from Sydney and Honolulu; and Honolulu is within 2000 miles of San Francisco. That is why I wrote to jour columns as I did, before Mr. Massey went home, and supplied you with a plan of tho Pacific showing the whole position. That is why I begged Mr. Massoy (knowing how file Home Government would neglect our interests) to try and stop Japan acquiring such a central position. I asked Mr. Massey to see President Wilson on his way Homo, and President Poincare in Paris, and explain the position to them. Why should we help Japan to get within easy distance of tho U.S.A. ? But that is what the Home Government would do by giving Japan these thousands of valuable islands. I do not wish to embarrass the Home Government. But why was the secret treaty entered into? To get Japanese help? Utter madness, say I. Japan was bound by treaty to help us, • without paying such a price; aa it may mean the overlordship of the Pacific, and consequently of New Zealand and Australia. I think, then, that public meetings should bo called to support Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. Hughes. No time should be lost, for tho Peace Conference will have to act sharply and promptly- • I say again that the Home Government is careless of Australasian interests. I don't blame Mr. Lloyd Georfre. Ho has not been here, and does not know the extreme gravity of the position. If ho did, he, would act differently. But it is the Cabinet. Cabinet folly has been shown by entering into that secret treaty giving these valuable islands and most valuable position in the Pacifio to Japan. Equally was that folly shown when Heligoland was given to Germany; a matter I warned England against doing in a, pamphlet I published in 1875, entitled "British Colonisation and British Commerce," advocating the annexation of all the Pacific Islands, which could then h»v« easily been done, as is well seen now I am anything but a good public speaker, as I much prefer quietly writing my viowa; but I will be pleased to come to town some evening and tell my fellowcitizens how important this matter is to us, and that we should cable Home at once, heartily supporting what our representatives aro doing. It is to guide the Home • Government we should try, an 3 act now. ' r