ON BEHALF OF JAPAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 37

ON BEHALF OF JAPAN.

Melbourne, November 16. At an influentinl gathering to celebrate the arrival of the pioneer steamer of the new Japanese mail line, Mr Marks, Consul for Japan, said that, with the view of opening trade with Australia, the Japanese Government had heavily subsidised the line, and abolished the duty on wool. In reply to this, the Adelaide Government had already introduced the Coloured Immigration Restriction Bill. He hoped that the Australian Governments would not pass measures which irritated the Japanese and caused them to become enemies. They were a mighty nation on the weatherbow of Australia, with forty millions of people, and a warlike race.

The Governments of Australia, con tinued Mr Marks, should understand they were parts of the British Empire, which made treaties with foreign nations, and these treaties must be observed. Australia could exclude whom she like, but the right to do so must be used with discretion. In days to come a federated Australia with Japan would dominate the Pacific, and it was necessary that Australia should make a friend of Japan rather than an enemy. He hoped that Australia would get through her troubles; without coming into collision with Vo? neighbours.