ASIA’S ASPIRATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6176, 6 April 1907, Page 7

ASIA’S ASPIRATIONS

JAPAN SEEKS NO COLONIES

CHINESE WANT COMMERCE ONLY NO DESIGNS ON AUSTRALASIA. “ X don’t think you will ever seo the Chinese become a powerful nation.” said a prominent. Japanese officer in the wardroom of the flagship yesterday. "“Their people arc not easy to organise. They arc not a people of war, but a people of commerce.” Tliis statement was made in reply to a “Times” reporter’s question as to tho trend of Asiatic aspirations, and it may be taken as the combined view of all the wardroom officers of the Itsukushinia. Tho Chinese have just ordered two million new rifles from Germany, remarked tho pressman. - Tho officer became thoughtful, as if the information necessitated a rearrangement of his ideas, but he expressed no view on the situation. Why does China order her rifles from Germany? “Because,” replied the man in gold lace, “German people have a great hold on China’s commerce.” But what about Japan’s aspirations? You want colonies. Where are you seeking them? “Wo want no colonies,” he said v “We love our own country. All nations love own country, but Japanese esnocially so.” You have nearly fifty millions of people in Japan—two hundred and ninety persons to every square mile; nearly as crowded as Britain. You will soon want more room? “No. Wo have plenty of room for double, treble, our present population. Wo arc not a colonising pcojile by nature. Wo like to live at homo in Japan. It will be a long time before we shall want colonies.” Or coaling stations for your fleet? “Wo have no use for coaling stations. Wo can coal our fleet quite, well from our colliers, ns we did in the Russian war.”

Korea would make a good colony? “Ob, yes. It is quite near to Japan, and would ho almost like being at home. It would make a good colony, but it has not got a fertile soil.” The talk then changed to the AngloJapaneso Alliance, of which the officer spoke very appreciatively. “It pletely’ protects the peace of the East,” ho said. “No one can attack cither of us, and wo are very anxious—as you 1 are also—to preserve: the peace. Our two navies combined are stronger than any other possible combination of four or five Powers. We think tho British navy is very fine; splendidly trained.” , Have you seen the warships of Germany? “Yes. They also arc well trained.' _

Some Power may try to create mischief that will break up the alliance, and then attack cither Britain or Japan. “Do you think any Power would attempt to break off the alliance?” he asked with a briskness that _ showed that lie, for one, did not think any Power would be so' stupid as to attempt it. “Wo must bo very careful not to let any mis. chiermakcrs interfere with the alliance, although.” he added, “X suppose Germany will always desire to do so.” Or Russia? “It will take. Russia many years to recover. She appears outwardly quiet, but there is much trouble within.” Germany and Russia combined? Do yon think they could combine? "There ore many obstacles to prevent such an alliance.” Is Japan helping China to organise?

“There arc A'ery fow Japanese in China. No naval officers, but a foAY military officers, and also a few German military officers. China is difficult to govern. So many districts have to be governed by viceroys, who are sometimes disobedient.” Which PoAver you expect will be your next enemies in battle? The officer laughed, and declared that it avrs “quite impossible to guess.” Apparently Japan has no nation which it regards as its natural enemy. So you think th© Chinese are not looking at Australasia? “Not to fight, nor to rule here. But only as merchants. They arc after money.” And Japan wants no-colonies? What do you grow in Japan for your people’s, food? “Wo groAv rice all Japan, and plenty of all kinds of grain, and grass, and fruit. Our food consists chiefly of rice, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and poultry. Our soil is very rich. There is plenty of fish all round Japan, and also Saphalicn Island, where some of our people are settling. Biit it is too cold there for rice.” Concerning r tho schools trouble in California, tho speaker dismissed it with the remark; “That was merely a local difficulty, and not a matter of vital Imperial concern. The trouble avrs not with the United States, but only with ono locality. We are sure, however, that tho chief rulers of America are actuated by that spirit of peace and impartial righteousness uhich also pervades the Japanese 6oreminent,” Your ships are to come back again to New Zealand? “Yes. Wc go home to send our midshipmen aboard our fighting ships, and then avo shall take other young midshipmen to train. Wc may be at Wellington again in a year.”