THE AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES AND JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 8

THE AUSTRALASIAN COLONIES AND JAPAN.

Sir, —I shall bo grateful if you will grant me space in your valuable columns to pro-, test against the ton© adopted by a section of the Australian and New Zealand press how far it represents public , thought it would be diffioult to say—against Japan. It is 20 years since I first visited Japan, and my interest in her has been constantly whetted by her surprising evolution. Without posing l as an authority, one, nevertheless, can scarcely fail under these circumstances to know something, and I know that her people are extremely sensitive to'outside criticism. They even resent being called " .Taps,"" a term we, in our love for abbreviations, use without thought of offence, and it may be taken for granted that the educated Japanese is aw&m of colonial criticism of an adverse kind;'and Japan, whether her song are Simian in appearance or not, may yet resemble that unreasonable member of the menagerie of which the French showman said, "Get animal est terrible, si on l'attaque, il se defend.' n In the absence of this stupid fanning of the flame of racial hatred there is absolutely no reason to fear that Japan's ambitions will ever lead her to these shores with hostile intent. She has never shown territorial gre&l, and her wars have been undertaken to sooure her integrity as a nation, and to preserve herself from -vassalage.

Quite 15 years ago it became apparent to Papanose statesmen that the future of Nippon as a nation depended on her successful resistance of Russian agression. At that time the Bear's paw was already on Oorea, and Japanese anger was roused to fighting pitch; but, with admirable wisdom, patience and self-sacrifice, she waited, saved, and built up her strength for the inevitable struggle. In the meantime Russia was gradually shutting her in. At Vladivostok, Corea, Formosa, Saghalien, and Port Arthur tho Boar was surrounding her. She had to fight or sink into the awful position of Russia's vassal. It was a question of selfdefence, not agression. After the Chinese war she yielded up the fruits of victory quietly and without a murmur to Western bounce; but it was after the Russian campaign, when backed by Great Britain and flushed with the world-astonishing triumph over mighty Russian, that she showed moderation unequalled in history. Her triumph was as much to the benefit of Great Britain as to herself. We gained as much as Japan. To appreciate our indebtedness it is necessary to take a short retrospect, and to realise tho position of these colonies in tho matter we must start with the axiom that the prestige of Great Britain in the Far East is of vital importance to the Australasian colonies.

In 1898 tho position of Groat Britain in. tho Far Bast was on© of grave anxiety. Our long-standing supremacy in Ohineso trado was in jeopardy and threatened with bouleversomont. # The "Western nations— many, Russia, France, and Italy—were calmly dividing tho Chinese Empire between themselves, under the euphemistic title of "spheres of influence," a term originated, I believe, by that master phrase-monger, the Kaiser Wilhelm. In his particular sphere he aimed to establish a zollverein that would effectually debar British goods. The other nations took the same line. . Inter alia, Sir Robert Hart, who for close on 40 years had been theorhiof of Chinese Customs, was to be ousted by a German. England, dazed by tho splendid audacity of the "sphere of influence" scheme, had to follow suit. It was true that her sphere, the Yang-tee-Kiang Valley, was a rich one; but hitherto she had not been shut out from other spheres she could offer her goods anywhere. Now the other nations said within their spheres, " You must take our goods, you can't have English goods." Russia meanwhile, establishing her banks throughout Northern China and advancing her Siberian railway, was dominating the north. Britain's position was gloomy indeed. Then a gleam of light penetrated. The "open door" had been spoken of before. Now British statesmen rang it in tho ears of the sleeping nation, and, loj China awoke! The slumbering, inort, and silent giant rubbed first one eyelid and then the other. She continues awakening, and to tho dismay of the Occident is throwing off the drug-like sleep of ages and shaking off tho opium habit itself.

Tho "open door!" It was her salvation from dismemberment;, but how could sho adopt it in tho face of the " spheres?" Fortunately, America, as well as England and Japan, wanted it. Unole Sam had been outhustled in the rush for his sphere. None of his worthy citizens had been slaughtered in a Boxer row to offer an excuse for seizing a slice of torritory. The fates had not been propitious. It was tho Japanese, however, who forced China most willingly, and Russia and Germany most unwillingly, to accept the "open door" by insisting on it in the terms of peace with Russia. Never has German diplomacy and land-hunger been so successfully thwarted. Of what use was an air-tight " sphere" with an opendoor in its middle? The very term must have a nauseous flavour to tho Hohenzollern palate. Above all, the "open door" has reopened the avenues of Chinese trade to Great Britain and re-established our prestige. It cannot be too plainly insisted that that has been one of the chief results of the Japanese war. Japan has done her best to re-establish our prestige, and insists, as part of the treaty, that we maintain our strength. In the face of these facts to hear her abused and accused of ulterior designs on these colonies is laughable, if it were not painful. Let us restrict immigration if (

—- ,JI, - J,. L wo wish. Let ua build up our strenath M ' all means; but let us cease to shriek «£' silly names in foolish alarm. - There » ! Japanese as valourous, as chivalrous in&2 courteous as the Knights of the' ttr£«?Table Do not lot us wantonly inffi. : L «;"'■ friend y nation because a few of V it: seek Gods Own Country.' w «uei ; v Ohura. G - Hamilton Rowland. • ■