WILL JAPAN FIGHT?

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4768, 16 January 1918, Page 5

WILL JAPAN FIGHT?

IMPORTANT CROWN COUNCIL

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received Jan. 15, 5.5 p in.) TOKIO, January J 4. Japanese newspapers give prominence to a lengthy conference between the Ministers and Emperor.

Acoerding to the terms of the An-glo-Japanese Alliance Britain would be bound to send soldiers for the defence of Japan should she be seriousi v threatened, and no argument on the score of sentimentality or economy would cause her to hesitate if necessity demanded aid,” writes Dr Ingram Bryan from Tokio to the Sydney Morning Herald. “Even for -Jio little war in Tsing-tau,' Britain sent her quota of troops to participate. We do not say that Japan is hesitating to send troops to Eurdpe, hut we say that the other Allies should not hesitate to accept her offer of such assistance. If half a million or more of Japan’s veterans were now thrown into the fighting front, an achievement that could be accomplished in two or three months the result could only be stimulating to the Allies as well as the reverse to the enemy. One cannot believe that this is a time when Japan would afford to be guided by-selfish pessimism, or that they represent Japan who keep on asking what she is to get out of the war, should she send troops to Europe. Every nation participating in Uii» war for freedom will get its due. In any case the best friend is not lie who asks Low much lie can get, but bow much he cap give. If the Samurai portion of Japan be consulted there is but one answer the Allies would receive were they to suggest her appearance among the military forces in Europe. Already the Imperial Navy of Japan has done well both in the Pacific and in the Mediterranean, and mw Japan is undertaking the policing of the Pacific while American ships-con-centrate on the Atlantic. Lc-t nr. he bold enough to say that it is only want of tactics on the part of someone that is depriving the Allied cause of Japan’s magnificent hero army, whose force could not tail to hasten the day of victory.”