"A WHITE PACIFIC."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13866, 28 September 1908, Page 6

"A WHITE PACIFIC."

STRUGGLE OF THE FUTURE. THE AMERICAN FLEET'S VOYAGE. The American papers contain various expressions of opinion regarding the significance of New Zealand's warm reception to the United States fleet. The New York Herald attaches "considerable political importance " to the welcome by the British colonists, and the New York Sun believes that the underlying motive of the New Zealanders "is a sense of self-pre-servation which recognises in the United States an ally and protector in the possible contingency of a struggle between the white raco and the yellow lace for the mastery of the Pacific." The' Springfield Republican, emphasising the same phase of the situation, says: — "Facing tlio teeming Orient almost at arm's length, a mere handful of white men confronting uncounted millions of Asiatics, the Australasians experience a feeling of isolation which makes them crave any evidence whatever of outside support. It is this feeling hitherto that has formed the strongest link between the South Sea commonwealths and the British Empire. Having seized upon a vast territory which they have scarcely begun to populate, and which the Asiatics from China, Japan, and India could quickly ovor-run with their surplus . inhabitants if the doors T, 'lC ( i„r~'' them, the Svl«feo""inliabitante" 5 of .British Oceania have witnessed tho development of America's Oriental immigration question with a lively sonse that this great issue of the future racial mastery of tho Pacific would necessarily make America and Australasi? the closest friends. Common interests, especially if they arc also vital interests, furnish the strongest ties between States, and that the Oriental coolio question brings America and the South Sea commonwealths into substantial unity in the politic? of tho Pacific is undoubtedly .tho conviction of every white man in New Zealand and Australia to-day."

Tho Republican - pauses, however, to warn the Australasians that they may "easily overdo tlioir welcome to tho American fleet," thus bringing about regrettable diplomatic misunderstandings. And the New Orleans Picayune, arguing to the same purpose, remarks: While tbo warmth of the reception in-Australia is very gratifying to tho American people and to the authorities at Washington, there is some fear that a political significance may bo given to the visit which is not desired. There exists a strong anti-Japanese feeling in Australia owing to the efforts to colonise many Japanese coolies in the Commonwealth. The feeling is very much the same as has existed on our own Pacific coast. There is some fear that the warmth of the reception accorded. the fleet will be coupled vvitb a fancied hostile purpose toward Japan in the presence of so large a fleet in tho Pacific. Whatever may have been the original motive for sending the fleet on a world tour, it is perfectly certain that its present purposo is in no way hostile to Japan or designed to.be a menace to that country. Ih fact, after leaving Australia the next foreign country to bo visited will be Japan itself, which makes it peculiarly desirable, that nothing should occur during the fleet's stay in Australia which might be calculated to wound the susceptibilities of the Japanese." > A BRITISH VIEW. [FROM OUR OWN correspondent.] London, August 21, Referring to the arrival of the American fleet in Australia the Globe to-night says: — ■ " Some of the Australian politicians have been greatly impressed by their first sight of modern battleships, and they express the earnest hope that Australia may soon possess, if not a similar fleet, at least a squadron worthy to be counted as an integral factor in Imperial defence. If our authorities' had had any imagination or feeling for the growing consciousness of Empire, they would not have let an American fleet bring the first modern battleships before tho eyes of' the British in the antipodes. ■ There are, we believe, a few modern British battleships in the world, which should have preceded and welcomed the American fleet to Australasia. Australia and New Zealand have both contributed to the British navy; they have a right to see it, one supposes, from' time to time. This we have not done, probably out of sheer neglect; but let us not now commit the greater .mistake of opposing the formation by the Australians themselves of a defensive naval squadron, to co-operate with the British navy in time of war, but still to be primarily a defensive force for Australia. The rising nationalism of Australia, which grows side by sido with the Imperialist feeling there, will sooner or later insist upon this squadron, as it has already insisted on a system of military training."