NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12861, 9 May 1905, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

CAXDIDATKS FOR ill!-: MIKADO'S I'lilKN D.MIU'. Discrssrxo the possibility of the AngloJapanese Alliance not being renewed, a. writer in the Nineteenth Century points out that Japan would, in 1006. find herself standing in the air. She would, therefore, in pood time have to iook round for a supporter among the Great Powers of the world, and an ally would surely and quickly be forthcoming. In fact, .she might bo troubled with an embarras do lionesses in the way or suitors, but she would certainly not find so staid anj so peaceful a partner as Britain. The candidates would probably be Germany, France, and perhaps even Russia, and these Powers would certainly see in a Japanese alliance, not an instrument of peace, but an instrument of self-aggrandisement, and would endeavour to use it as such. Japan might consequently be placed before the choice either to live in dangerous isolation—and single-handed .she could not possibly defend the integrity of China against, the Powers of Europe—or she would be compelled to assist actively in a policy of spoliation which might recommend itself to her partner or partners. At the very least, she would he forced to countenance a policy of conquest on the part of her ally or allies. For these reasons, the termination of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance would most likely mean the beginning of ft, period of turbulence in the Far East, which might convulse not only Asia 'but the whole world. As a matter of fact, there is a great European Power which is already making subtle and strenuous efforts to drive a wedge into the Anglo-Japanese Alliance with the object of ultimately taking our place at the side of Japan. Hence British diplomacy will do well to watch closely the proceedings of that enterori.siinr mid ambitious Power which aims at founding another India on Cliiuose soil.

INTJCCTF.D WORDS. i The latest annual report of the Local Government Board contains the record of some investigations carried out by Dr. M. Gordon to determine the effect which speaking lias in polluting the air with micro-organisms. The, natural character of the saliva as regards bacteria was first examined, and a. certain minute form was found extremely abundant, the number varying from 10 millions to 100 millions in about the 16th part of a. cubic inch. Dishes containing a solution by which minute traces of saliva could be detected were then placed at varying distances from a .speaker, and by examining them subsequently, the distance to which particles were carried from his mouth was determined. It was found that these particles were present in the air no less than 40ft in front of a loud speaker, and 12ft behind him. The. results would be alarming if they referred to malignant forms of bacteria, and even as they stand they suggest that an audience may be literally infected by the words of a speaker. The extent to which speech may pollute or enrich the air may thus in future be decided by a bacteriological examination. early HtTSSIAX estimate "1' jai-as's FUTURE. .Mr. G. If. Baillie writes to the London Times: ~" 1819 was published r. translation of 'Recollections of Japan,' written by Golownin, a captain in the Russian navy. A chapter on national character contains a forecast which, in the light of present events, i,s of peculiar interest. Golownin, too, gives a warning to his countrymen which they might well have taken to heart. I transcribe the following/passages from the writings of this shrewd traveller: —. , . ' What must we expect if this numerous, ingenious, and industrious people, who are capable of everything, and much inclined to imitate all that is foreign, should ever have a Sovereign like our Peter the Great With the resources and treasures which Japan possesses, ho would enable it to become, in a few years, the Sovereign of the Eastern Ocean.' However deeply a horror of everything foreign may be impressed on the Japanese and Chinese Governments, yet a change in their system is not inconceivable ; necessity may compel their to do that to which their own free will does not impel them! Attacks, for example, like that of Chwosloff, often repeated, would probably induce them to think of means to repel a handful of vagabonds who disturbed a nation. Tin's might lead them to build ships of war on the model of those of Europe; these ships might increase to fleets, and then it is probable' that the good success of this measure would lead them also to adopt the other scientific methods which are so applicable to the destruction of the human race. In this manner all the inventions of Europe might gradually take root in Japan, even without the creative spirit of a Peter, merely by the power and concurrence of circumstances. The Japanese certainly would not be in want of teachers if they would only invite them. I therefore believe that this just and upright people must, by no means, be provoked."