THE YELLOW PERIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15613, 20 May 1914, Page 9

THE YELLOW PERIL.

■ REPLY TO SIR I. HAMILTON. ;\ JAPAN' MUST • PREPARE." ASIATIC CO-OPERATION; *'•£'■% - ■ -J ' ■ ■'■' /-- . .. r ■-.-''■.•:":•:.'-"■' : ■-'"'■■ :';.' Tirniia and Sydney Sun Services.: ; : i; ;-. : (Received May 19, 6 p.m.) '..'■', Tokxo, May 18.' Some •of the newspapers, referring to Sir lan Hamilton's remarks at tfs: Auckland, declare that-Japan must prepare to stand alone and face the white racos in battle. •|; ' Other papers say that Asia must ■-':; cooperate with Japan for the common defence.

One newspaper complains that Sir lan Hamilton is a disturber of the world's peace.

NO WARLIKE DESIGNS.

AIM OF OUR ALLIES.

"' (Received May 20, 12.5 a.m.)

London, May 19.

Tho correspondent of the Daily Mail at Tokio says that tho' Japanese doubts concerning the British enthusiasm for the alliance have been renewed by Sir lan Hamilton's speech, referring to the Pacific as the possible battlefield between Asiatics and Europeans. Count Okuma's declaration has not removed the uneasiness. ; ■• The Nichi Nichi declares that Japan must warn the other Asiatics of the fearful consequences of the white men's prejudice and unrighteous attitude. Japan has no warlike designs, but is striving for an equal footing with the whites.'

GENERAL RETICENT. ~~~

. [l)T TZLEGBAFH.—rEESS ASSOCIATION.] Wakgantti, Tuesday. A Chronicle reporter waited on Sir lan Hamilton this evening in reference to the above cablegram. The general said ho was unable, owing to the military rules, to make any comments.

POSITION IN THE PACIFIC.

PERIL TO AUSTRALASIA. ','

In the course of & stirring; speech made by Sir' lan Hamilton at the civic reception tendered to him in the Auckland Town Hall last week the general touched oil the reasons why New Zealand was "furbishing up its armour of defence," Cue reason, he declared, was thaty the Pacific, in spite of its peaceful name, was more stormy than any other more-distant ocean. ;■'.■■

'•'While we would all deplore such a contingency, it is conceivable that, apart from the storms of Nature, there may be iffeater and more terrible convulsions than over in the past. That is to" say, the Pacific is the meeting-ground, not of nations, ljut of continents. Here it maybe decided whether Asiatics or Europeans sot going to guide the destinies of this planet! | These are more or less obvious reasons, but there are others which I believe to bo real and true, although they are more or less under the surface." .-., "In our own nation." he continued, "there axe signs of danger to the white race from the existence of the materialistic factor. In Ladysmith during the Boer war the main street was a thoroughfare containing prosperous European shopkeepers. What a change had been wrought when I went there two years ago to take Sir George White's place as president of Ladysmith. The shopkeepers had vanished, and their places have been token by bunyahs and coolies, j who exist on a couple of meals of rice A day. :-. While these coolies have no constructive or progressive talent, they have tho knack of handling and accumulating money to a nicety. This, then, is the point of the story. This is the. reason why, in - the time of progress and prosperity, Australia and New' Zealand are instinctively facing the necessity of preparing for defence. If people with high ideals and standards are forced to live .'" cheek by jowl with people of low standards and low ideals they must either . become slave-drivers or sink to the level of. those by whom they are surrounded, and thus be beaten."