DESPOILING CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16566, 2 June 1914, Page 6

DESPOILING CHINA.

“It has to be recognised that an era of scramble has opened in China,’ wrote a correspondent of the London “Times” a few weeks ago, “and those who scramble intelligently will now obtain opportunities likely to be extraordinarily profitable in the future.” Recent news from the Far East has shown that the great Powers haro abandoned almost entirely any pretence of disinterested friendship for China. The weakness of the country and the failure of the republican Government were invitations to the con-cession-hunters of all nations and nfter Russia had set an example by grasping Northern Mongolia, other Powers feared to stand asido lest their own commercial interests should suffer at the hands of their rivals. The SinoJapanese Corporation came into existence, with the weight of the Japanese Government behind it, and proceeded to acquire the means of enormous financial and industrial activity in Chinese territory. The representatives of Japan became moro active than ever in Manchuria and showed new vigour in Northern China, generally. Then Britain, already engaged in pushing Chinese authority back in Tibet as a measure of protection for the Indian frontier, announced through the Ambassador in Pekin that tlio predominance of British interests in the Yangtsze Valley must bo recognised Germany and France, with smaller interests at stake, were not inactive and the United States alone refused, in accordance with the policy laid down by Dr Woodrow Wilson, to take advantage of China’s weakness. To-day we are told in a cablegram that Japanese diplomatic methods in China are b?ing “remodelled owing to the weakened condition of China and the great energy displayed by the Powers in scrambling for concessions.” This statement means simply that Japan is pressing China more l>oldly than before and it is not surprising to find the Pekin correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph” urging that the time has come for Britain and Japan to consider hovr far they can adopt Count Okuma’s recent suggestion for an Anglo-Jnpanose commercial alliance to operate in Chinese territory. The outlook for the Chinese nation, which , seemed to be on the eve of regeneration

two years ago. is not bright. But Australasian people, adopting the rather cynical attitude of diplomacy, may watch developments with a comforting consciousness that China’s sufferings mean the dwindling of the “yellow peril.” Japan is assuming burdens and responsibilities in China that may postpone for a century any movement towards Australia’s empty spaces. By that time the empty spaces should not exist.