THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1907. THE EASTERN TROUBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13452, 31 May 1907, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1907. THE EASTERN TROUBLE.

I «». As the anti-European movement throughout the East becomes more marked in its character we are better able to understand the inclination of European traders to withdraw as rapidly as possible from territory which threatens to soon become unprofitable, if not actually untenable. For every ebullition of racial feeling, whether in Japan, China, or India, reacts immediately upon trade, and may safely be assumed to be sympathised with and even encouraged by the Asiatic commercial rivals of European and American firms. It. has been made quite clear that the " open door" in Manchuria and Corea did not mean what was optimistically anticipated by those multitudes of trustful Englishmen who pin their faith to Free Trade. Those large and profitable markets are . practically preserves for the Japaneseas why should they not be, considering that they were won by Japanese arms at the cost of hard-earned Japanese gold Promises go for little in the East, but human nature is much the same all the world over, and outside the United Kingdom the advantage of a preferential market is universally recognised. In India itself, in spite of the protestations of the Indian Government against Imperial reciprocity, every seditious movement is accompanied by the instigation to apply commercial boycott upon British goods, which naturally brings into action against us an interested and persistent section. In China we know what has happened to the American importers as a result of the anti-American agitation; and we may confidently expect somewhat similar results from the rebellion now in progress at Swatow. This rebellion is declared to be antidynastic and not anti-foreignan old device of Chinese officials. The Boxer movement was defined in identical terms at the very time when the Empress was hand-in-glove with its leaders, and when the desperate attempt was made to "exterminate every European in Pekin, including the Legations. The rebellion now in progress of expansion has been observed for over a year, and - has been of an - anti-European character from the beginning. So little * value is placed upon human life in the Flowery Kingdom that any slaughter or murder, official or otherwise,, in connection with the rebellion can make no difference in the relations of the rebels and tile Pekin Government, provided Europeans are not treated in such a manner as to compel another Allied intervention for their protection. The lesson that Europeans must be treated much • more delicately than their, own countrymen has evidently been impressed upon the rebels, though what may happen if the rebellion gathers strength' enough- to make its leaders confidentwe need not suggest. The point is that all this disturbance is operating against European trade, and steadily reducing the importance of the Chinese market to European traders. For although murders . may be avenged, a determined people cannot be compelled to buyparticularly when the Japanese are offering their manufactures as an alternative. The next. Imperial. Conference— . years hence—may find our colonial markets, in which British goods have not only equality, but preference, occupying a much higher place than at present in the minds of British ex- ' porters.

If we turn from India and China, both unmistakably seething with a bitterness against the Western nations, which finds vent in sedition, rebellion, and unveiled ill-will that it would be sheer folly to overlook or underestimate, to Japan itself, the acknowledged chief of the |Eastern nations, we find a still more evident animosity. Certainly this animosity is for the time being directed against the United States, but the inciting cause is one which may easily divert it against the British colonies of the Pacific. The highly-protected markets of America offer little opportunity to the Japanese, or any other outside manufacturers, but the high American wages have drawn a considerable Japanese immigration, with the inevitable consequences. Mr. Roosevelt said too much and did too little over the San Francisco school question. He threatened the recalcitrant city and State with, all manner of penalties, and then meekly arranged with the Mikado that the Japanese immigration should cease if Japanese students were admitted to the Californian schools. It is difficult to see what better the American President could have done, for it is desirable that the Japanese should be treated courteously, while it is impossible for any European State which wishes to remain European to admit them freely. But the circumstances of the compromise could hardly inspire the rougher elements of San Francisco with respect for their own laws; they are now attempting to expel the Japanese who had previously gained admission, arid are reported to be succeeding to a certain extent. The whole incident is exceedingly regrettable, and the American authorities are greatly to be censured for not stringently enforcing the law. From our British 'point of view that is quite inexcusable, however completely exclusion laws may be justified. Yet our indignation against a Western Government which allows its country to lapse into barbaric conditions must not- blind us to certain facts. Firstly, the grave class divisions which have grown up in the American "republic" allowed the evil to become aggravated without inducing orderly | legislative remedies; and, secondly, it is the exclusion of Japanese itself which excites ill-will at Tokio. In ( New. Zealand, the absence of class

antagonisms on such questions, and the unanimous determination to permit no influx which may denationalise the colony, would invoke prompt and effective legislative ac-j tion long before there was the j slightest excuse for mob-law. Have we any reason to think that Japan would not resent such enactments as . keenly as she does American attacks? Put into words, Japan wants markets for her goods and land for her surplus population. She is getting plenty of market in Asia itself, thanks to her position in Corea and Manchuria, and to her skilful use of the anti-European movement that is agitating the continent. But for fields of emigration she is evidently looking* over the ocean, and in this will have China as her hearty, ally. Whether we are rude or polite, orderly or disorderly, in our exclusion methods, cannot greatly affect the problem, though i for our own self-respect, and because even those who differ fundamentally need not be discourteous j superficially, a nation ought to act in a dignified: and manly fashion. The Anglo - Japanese Alliance smoothes the matter over for the time being as far as our colonies are concerned, but we should be under no delusion as to what the end must be. Unless Japan makes up, her mind that the Western nations are too strong and too united for her, she will sooner or later make an attempt to break our doors in all round the Pacificand it is not wise to conclude that she must necessarily begin with those of the United States.