JAPANESE POLICY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 23 May 1917, Page 6

JAPANESE POLICY.

ADHERENCE TO THE ALLIES

(^v Viscount Motono, Foreign j Minister), j In declaring war againsfr Germany | ana in adhering to the Pact ot London of September 5, 1914 (no separate peace), Japan has assumed an uneqmvo cal attituue. We have taken our part ( in this war not only in defence of our oWn interests, but also in order to defend those of our Allies and those, of; humanity itself. Kignt and justice snould by all means emerge triumpnant from this struggle. It is absolutely necessary that tne world should live in ■ all tranquSity af-cer the \yar. I To nttain these noble objects, the Al_. lied Powers must first of all win com-; plete and definite, victory. In the event of our victory not being complete, «fc is hardly necessary to say that the peace j in the Far East for which Japan has sacrificed so much would be exposed to real dangers. For the attainment of j this victory, the "Union Sacree" not>| only of all the Governments, but also' of all the nations, now allied to-j gether for the defence of indefeasible, a-jghts of humanity, is the most essential condition. In .accepting participation in this war, Japan was obliged, in view of her special position in Asia, to .restrict from the outset her sphere of military action. But after having loyally accomplished the task incumbent upon us, we nave! made, and are still making, every ef-j fort ifco win a final triumph for our Al- j lies. The struggle is not confined to the • field of military and naval action. It ex_ i tends to every department of human activity. For this reason, we have ad- j hered to the resolutions adopted at the i! Economic Conference in Paris, and it is also wi:h this object that we now pro-1 pose to take other measurs in consequence of our adhesion to these resolutions. For ?this reason, too, we have J promptly assented to the draft replies | pu-oposed by France on behalf of our Allies to the recent German and Ameri_ can Notes. Our foreign policy is based upon our alliance with England. The war has shown the unshaken solidity of the alliance as well as its indisputable bene-! tits. The Japanese and English peoples i have realised in rfche most vivid way the necessity of this alliance for safeguarding the lights and interests of tlie two Empires. It is the essential guarantee! for the maintenance of order and peace; in the Bar East. In view of the greajfc political and economic interests which Japan possesses in China, Japan has always been actuated by the most sincere desire to see tint country develop in tho path of modern civilisation, and with this object in view we have never spared our efforts to come to her assistance. It is for that reason that civil and military advisers \vere sent by Japan; and that she has concerted herself with other lowers to procure for China the financial means for tho accomplishment of all sorts of reforms, and thajt wo are also engaged in the education and instruction of Chinese students w.ho come to Japan in thousands. No one will deny that China owes much to Japan in her work of reorganisation. If China desires to maintain with Ja_ pan, as we desire most sincerely, relations of tho most, cordial friendship, it is most necessaa-y that she should follow the same line of policy that we intend to pursue with her. It is only on • this condition that a solid understanding could exist between our two countries. When the Chinese Government) «nderstands clearly and distinctly the! intention of Japan, China will have no

objection to our very sincere policy. ( Nobody disputes that Japan occupies ' a special position in China. But we ' miisij riot' ignore the fact that other Powers have vast interests in China, and, in safeguarding our own interests, we must respect carefully those of -qthers, and we must try first of all to move in accord with other Powers with whom we have special agreements, and • try to reconcile our interests with those ' of other nations. We are firmly convinced that such is the best policy. In all thsyt concerns the common interest of all nations. Japan has no intention of following an egotistic policy in China. She desires most sincerely to work in agreement with the interested Powers. The Imperial Government firmly believes that with a little good will a complete understanding can be reached for the, welfare of China as well as of all the Powers.