BERLIN TO TOKIO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16798, 14 March 1918, Page 5

BERLIN TO TOKIO.

GERMANY'S NEW DREAM. LONDON, Feb. 27. The Munich Ncuesto Nachrichten discloses the fact that Germany's latest political catchword is "Berlin to Tokio." The paper points out that the Prussian promoters of this brilliant idea must organise Russia before they will bo ablo to realise the scheme, which also involves moro effective support than Germany's allies are likely to afford. After the war Japan, who lias done good business out of tho war, will not be likely to abandon the present profitable tactics. " Berlin to Tokto," the paper adds, is only a poor substitute for a world policy and freedom of tho seas, which is Germany's truo destiny. Commenting on tho Berlin to Tokio scheme, tho London Times points out that its aim is to tie Japan to the wheels of the Hohenzollcrn chariot and embroil her with America and the Western in order to deal with her at leisure, as Germany wanted to deal with her when she tore'up the treaty of Shimonoseki aud urged tho Tsar, in 1904, to make war on Japan. The collapse of Russia may, in the German opinion, furnish an opportunity to revivo this pet scheme; but German diplomacy ignores Japanese loyalty and enlightened self-interest. The Russian situation has not taken the Japanese. Government by surprise. The possibility of a separate peace by Imperial Russia more than a year ago caused Japan to ponder over her possible action in the event of Russia proving to be false to her pledges. " Unless we aro gravely mistaken," continues the article, " the present situation will appeal to Japanese statesmen a-« urgently as did the earlier contingency. Japan may be trusted to face the position with,l flinching. The moment may be at hand .jr the allies to lend moral support to any action she may feel bound to undertake for the protection of her and their in terests. Though Asia is only one aspect of the war, it is daily becoming more prominent and more grave. Should Japan, after consulting the allies, take steps on her own account, and as an allied mandatory forestall the German plans, we believe she would enjoy implicit trust and the hearty goodwill of those understanding the immensity of the allied interests."