THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1924. OUR JAPANESE VISITORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1924. OUR JAPANESE VISITORS.

The visit of the Japanese cruisers, is an event of deep interest. It is significant of a friendship well established between two great peoples. Vice-Admiral Saito and his associates may rest assured that the welcome Auckland this day accords them is both cordial and sincere, and that this gesture of fellowship is typical of British feeling everywhere toward the nation they represent. It is not surprising that this cordiality is found in these southern seas. Our visitors are not strangers by any means in these waters. Vice-Admiral Saito himself was here some years ago, and some of the cruiser squadron have been in our ports before. Resumption of acquaintance ps consequently easy and unconstrained. But there is a deeper call to our affection in the memory of Japan's naval aid, both to New Zealand and Australia, in the fateful year of the great war's outbreak. Japan had been for some time our covenanted ally so, when war between us and Germany became tragically inevitable, this Eastern nation put to sea in our help. Our Main Expeditionary Force, together with Australia's first contingent, needed convoy. Von Spee's squadron was cruising in the South Pacific, the Emden was raiding in the Indian ocean. A request was made for Japan's naval protection and the Ibuki was detailed for the friendly office. New Zealanders can never forget that timely service, nor other help of the kind. There was thus proved in very practical fashion to us Japan's readiness to fulfil to the letter her obligations as an ally, and memory gives the warmth of gratitude to the welcome our visitors meet now in this land.

That friendly aid had special significance as rendered by an Eastern people to the cause of Western civilisation. Japan, despite her dwelling on the utmost fringe of the East, had been, since the third quarter of last century, sedulously cultivating Western ways. Especially had she been eager to identify herself with Britain's point of view. The teaching of English became a part of her educational system. It was made the language next to Japanese as a school study, and for its learning, as for the learning of some other subjects, English help was got. Teachers of various ranks were induced to go from Britain to Japan, and they were treated with uniform kindness by the Japanese authorities. In every possible way this island nation of Asia sought to gain and to use the culture of Europe, and right well the attempt succeeded. It was not, after all, surprising that when the war broke out Japan's sympathies should be manifestly with the Powers seeking to save that culture from the onslaught of a barbaric hostility. This meeting of East and West in an enduring alliance is one of the cardinal happenings of our time. It testifies more eloquently than anything else has done to the underlying ' unity shared by progressive peoples, that "there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor birth, when two strong men stand face to face though they come from the ends of the earth." Japan and Britain have looked into each other's eyes, frankly and with sympathy, and from that understanding greater things yet will surely come. Although the Anglo-Japanese treaty has been foregone in the creation of the Four-Power pact that has added France and America, the trust engendered by the earlier alliance yemains a strong link of friendship— that will abide to strengthen the new pact and perchance help in fashioning upon it the comprehensive League of Nations that tarries to-day because of the aloofness of one of the parties to this Four-Power agreement.

Our esteem for our Eastern ally has been greatly enhanced by the courage displayed under trial last year. An earthquake of terrific violence turned Tokio and Yokohama into heaps of srioking ruins.

With incredible swiftness, , their strength and beauty were levelled to dust and ashes. But that rapid rain has been matched with swift plans for rebuilding, not merely with a view to repair the loss, but with a determination to make the new cities; far better than the old. A noted American authority on town-planning and municipal government, the historian Dr. Charles A. Beard, is employed under engagement by the Minister for Home Affairs, in a colossal scheme of reconstruction. In ten years, if all goes well, there will be a new Tokio comparable to the great capitals of Europe and America, and incorporating the finer characteristics of Western cities. "The calm and resolute attacking of this great task has tinged sympathy for Japan's grievous loss with admiration for the splendid spirit shown under trial. With this dauntless courage, coupled to a wonderful,' eagerness for education and an equally wonderful aptitude for statecraft, Japan bids fair to dignify the place already accorded her in the company of the great Powers. She has her problems, and some of them will arouse international issues; but in her endeavours to find reasonable solutions for them she is already assured of the sympathetic assistance of other States. Britain conspicuously welcomes a strengthening of alliance with Japan, and our visitors, who have already had proof of New Zealand's participation in that national desire, will find that in Auckland it has a spacious place.