THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1921. CHINA AND JAPAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17784, 18 May 1921, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1921. CHINA AND JAPAN.

| Tue appeal made by Dr. Sun Yat j Sen to the Powers for recognition of the Canton Government is a de- ■ velopment of more than academic ! interest to New Zealand. As a | nation of the Pacific comity we cannot afford to be indifferent to the I development of the great, inert Re- ! public of China. Much less can we ; ignore questions which touch so in- | timately the Anglo-Japanese Alli- ! ance, the relations of Japan and the , United States, and therefore the friendship of the English-speaking i peoples. It is in one sense unfor- ] tunate that European complications have so effectively diverted public attention from the civil war in China, where issues fraught with menace to the world's peace have emerged. On their exclusively Chinese side the quarrels of the provinces are of lesser importance. They have drained the visible wealth of China and caused her to sacrifice the splendid opportunity the war offered of developing her economic strength. But as no misgovernment can permanently impoverish China, the anarchy of the past few years would quickly become a mere episode in the history of that wonderful country if honest and competent administration were given a fair field. On the facts it is impossible to 'judge Dr. Sun Yat Sen's claim that the Canton Government is more deserving of recognition than the Peking Government. It may be granted that Dr. Sun Yat Sen is one of the most distinguished of Chinese and that he is allied with the more democratic, and presumably the more honest, elements in the community. But in the end the title to govern so vast, so heterogeneous, and so inarticulate a people must rest on force, and it remains to be seen whether Dr. Sun Yat Sen can compel the submission of the many elements which still oppose him. Democracy is at the best a doubtful remedy for Chinese ills. Republicanism succeeded as long as there was a president like Yuan Shih-Kai strong enough to control the whole country, but its subsequent record compares unfavourably with that of the Manchu dynasty, which at least placed some check on j the greed and corruption of the I mandarinate. It may be that a j benevolent despotism will prove to j be the instrument of China's salva- | tion, and it is by no means clear that Dr. Sun Yat Sen will be able to exercise despotic powers. The quarrel between the military and Republican parties in the north, which in -some measure prepared the way for the election of Dr. Sun Yat Sen as president, had its counterpart in a division which split the south, and until Dr. Sun Yat Sen can reconcile or overawe all the warring elements it is not safe to assume that he will prove the architect of China's better fortunes. It is on the broadest international grounds that the restoration of order in China is most desirable. During the past few years, in the absence of a strong central executive, the Tuchuns (military govAnors) have ruled the country and have pledged the credit of the people very deeply to pay the large standing armies they have maintained. Nothing is more certain than that these advances will become a source of international friction whenever China is strong enough to stand up for her rights. The Japanese have been particularly prominent in financing the civil war. It is estimated that banks and capitalists have advanced £120,000,000, all of which has been utterly squandered, and in return have secured a lien on all the more important assets of China in sight. Representative Chinese do not hesitate to impugn the good faith of the Japanese Government in this matter. They assert tnat Japan has purposely bolstered up whichever side showed signs of collapsing in order prolong the war in her own in- | terests. Another, and probably more | a < Jcura te, explanation is that liberal . e ements in Japan have financed the | Republicans in China and the mili- | tary party in Japan has assisted the I military party in China. The effect I would be the same. It is, indeed, always difficult to judge of the sin- . ferity of Japanese policy in China. I 1 or years Japanese statesmen have been givmg the most admirable assurances of devotion to the " open door' policy, but all the time Japan has been strengthening her hold on China. The truth is that Japan's foreign policy is directed sometimes by the Foreign Office and sometimes by the War Office. There are invisible and irresponsible powers behind the throne which are able occasionally to usurp authoritative

Cabinet government, and when they assert themselves—as at the time of the " twenty-one demands," in May, the actions of Tot-in are liable to belie its professions. Fortunately, the influence of the military party is waning, and as Parliament asserts its authority it is reasonable to suppose that Japanese foreign policy will become more consistent and at the same time more pacific. There cei'tainly is need for candour in the attitude of Japan to China, The policy of territorial aggrandisement and of economic penetration has thoroughly alienated the Chinese, alarmed the United States, and prejudiced important sections of British opinion against the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. It is a policy which is fully as stupid as it is mischievous. Japan cannot suppose that the conscience of the world will permit her to retain Kiauchau, yet she obstinately maintains possession of the territory. This is the more regrettable because the basis of a permanent settlement of Chinese questions is not far to seek. Neither the United States nor Britain can wisely ignore the economic compulsion under which Japan labours. They must make allowance for the fact that her plains and hillsides are tilled to the last available inch, and that she must find space for the expansion of her population. Neither can they at -this late hour usefully challenge Japan's special interests in Manchuria and Mongolia. The most statesmanlike course would appear to be to emphasise the natural distinction between China proper and the undeveloped territories to the north of the Great Wall. In Mongolia and Manchuria there is room for Japanese settlement and scope for economic expansion, but in Shantung Japan is a trespasser in the purely Chinese domain, and the sooner she withdraws the better for the world's peace.