PACIFIC CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1927, Page 5

PACIFIC CONFERENCE

CHINESE AND JAP. PROBLEMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) HONOLULU, July 20. Dr Whyte presented a paper to the Institute on Pacific Relations, ‘‘China and the Foreign Powers,” tracing the relations of that country with other nations from the early times. He said that Britain’s policy in China had been dictated “primarily,” if not solely, by commercial interest. “Reviewing the Japanese Imperial policy,” he said that it was as justified as was the Imperial expansion of Britain across the sea, or America’s expansion to the Pacific coast. Dr Sawayanagi, head of the Japanese Delegation, said that the Pacific Ocean gradually was becoming the centre of the world. He added that Japan was facing a difficult task in solving her food problem, which could be done only through the tolerance and enlightened co-operation of all the nations bordering on the Pacific.

NEW ZEALAND’S PART. HONOLULU, July 21. Mr Cocker, addressing the Pacific Institute, said there had not been enough time for the full development of national spirit and consciousness in New Zealand. So complete has been the connection with Britain that the New Zealander is inclined to regard himself as a British subject first, and a New Zealander afterwards, yet any attempt at dictation on the part of Britain would be strongly resented. The country is showing increasing interest in foreign affairs. It may be that the New Zealander is destined to play an important part in the protection and advancement of Polynesian peoples in the South Pacific.