ASIA AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17218, 22 January 1918, Page 6

ASIA AND THE WAR

AMERICA'S PART. WEIGHTY WORDS .FROM A SUCCESSFUL DII'LOMAT. ADDRESS BY DR G. E. MOItRLSON. Last evening the Otago Expansion Loaguo had the pleasure of entertaining at supper two most distinguished and remarkable visitors to this country and of hearing from than addresses of singular significance and deep interest in relation to certain aspects of the war. The guests of the_ evening were Dr G. E. Morrison, the brilliant Australian author, journalist, and diplomatist, whoso name is known the world round aa tho most influential European in tho Far East; and Professor Trueblood, who was the original professor of oratory in Michigan University, the first University in tho United States to establish a chair on that subject. Mr A. Bathgate presided as president of tho league, and, in addition to the guests of honour, there "wcro present the Hon. Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice of New Zealand), tho Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence), the Hon. Mr Hanan (Minister of .Education), the Hon. Colonel Collins, MJj.O. Professor Macmillan Brown (Vicechancellor of the New Zealand University), Mr John Stead (Mayer of liivexcargill), Dr Anderson (Director of Education), iVIr T. K. Sidey, M.P., and a largo number of the loading business and professional men of

the community. * The original intention of tlio league was to combine tho entertainment of Dr Morrison and Professor Trueblood with a meetin<r with a number of delegates from tho Southland League, but the Southlanders postponed their visit, and that part of the plan fell through. An excellent assortment of Central Otago fruit was a feature of the supper provided. Tho Chairman, in welcoming and introducing the guests, referred to the fact that. Dr Morrison was a native of Geelong in Victoria.-—(Applause.) Dr Morrison was a man of many parts. He was not merely a traveller. Ho was a book lover, and his collection of works about China became so extensive and so valuable that some little time ago ho disposed of it to a wealthy Japaneso for some £35,000. Dr Morrison had kindly consented to tell them a, little about China and its conncction with the war. —(Loud applause.)

Dr Morrison, on rising to speak, was given an ovation. He returned thanks for the honour done him in inviting him to be one of tho guests of tho Otago Expansion League. It gave turn great pleasure to meet so many of the famous men of New Zealand, and it gave him special pic-ru-st] re to find that in the president they had one bearing tho name of Bathgate, a name widely honoured in New Zealand, a name remembered with gratitude by many in China and in India. He himself could only express the obligation that he was under to the brother of the chairman—(Applause.) In 1894- ho had made a journey across China to Burma. He had very little money, and when ho arrived at Calcutta after leaving Burma his resources were praotically exhausted. Not only was lie destitute) of money, but he had very little clothing, and while he was there he had the misfortune to be stricken with remittent fever. In all Calcutta he knew only two men, and one was Mr John Bathgate. That gentleman took him into his house, secured for him the best doctors in Calcutta, and nurses to attend him, all at his own expense. Later, when he became convalescent, Mr Bathgate paid his expenses to go up to a French settlement in tho hills, and later still ho obtained for him a position as surgeon on a ship which brought him back to his own country, and gave him the money which enabled him to land in his own country with sufficient, at all events, to send a telegram to his people.—-(Laughter.) Tho debt of money was easily repaid, but he never could repay the debt of gratitudo that ho owed to Mr John Bathgate.—(Applause.) " I am now called upon," said Dr Morrison, " to sneak to you about China and about China's entry into the war. It is a very largo question, large as tho country itself. For more than 20 years now I have been in the Far East, for the first 17 years as correspondent of the London Times, and for the last five years in tho service of tho Chinese Government. Opportunity has been given to mo during that long time to visit every portion of tho Chineso dominions. I have travelled—or rather I should say opportunity has been given to mo to travel—from Shanghai overland to Burma, from Siberia overland to Bangkok, in Siam, and a few years ago The Times permitted me to take a journey from Eastern China across into Russian Turkestan. During that time I have been brought into contact with Chinese of all classes, from the highest official to tho humblest coolies, and during all that time I have been treated with a courtesy and consideration the recollection of which will never fade from my memory. It is impossible to travel in China as I have travelled without being impressed with the immense possibilities of that great country, oovering more than four and a-half million square miles of the earth's surface, with every advantage that can ibo given by every kind of climate, with very abundant means of water communication in the interior, and with illimitable resources. It is impossible not to have confidence in the future of such a country, peopled as it is with more than 325,000,000 of highly intelligent people capablo of withstanding any calamity, capable of learning anything- The Far Eastern problem is one which must continue, or must begin to attract and compel the attention of every thinking man in Australia and New Zealand. What is to be the future of a country like China, whose population is increasing at the rate of five million per annum'{ Should it happen that that country comes closer to the country of Japan, which is near its eastern barriers, a combination of the efficiency of Japan with the illimitable resources of China will make a very formidable combination indeed. Japan, now our trusted ally, has a population of 53,000,000 people, highly trained, highly disciplined men, whose labouring classes glory in their work, and that population is increasing at the rate of 680,000 per annum—an increase larger than the total population of Queensland. Within only very recent years there has been added to the Japanese nation tho Korean nation, a nation of 17,000,000 people, who, under the admirable administration given to them by Japan, arc increasing at the rate of more than 600,000 per annum. They have been an immense accession of strength to the Japanese, for they are physically superior to the Japanese. They are capable of learning everything, and thoy have got the faculty of learning languages, which faculty has been denied—speaking generally—to tho Japanese." Dr Morrison went on 'to refer to the great possibilities of the Japanese nation, and to the efficiency and thoroughness of their military system. Continuing, Dr Morrison said:_ "China now has come into this war. China came in only on August 14, 1917. She was prepared to come into this war in August. 1914, but circumstances over which she had no control prevented her. Again, in 1915, she was prepared to come into this war _ on the side of right, on tho side of the Allies, but again circumstances were too powerful, and she was unable to come in. Not until America broke off diplomatic relations with Germany did China feel herself strong enough to accept the invitation extended to her by America to join on behalf of the neutral States in standing for tho rights of the neutrals. Then, as you know, China and Siam both came into this war. And nothing is more astonishing to rne, coming down into this country, than'to hear highlyeducated men express the view 'that the coming of China into the war was a matter of indifference—that it did not mike any difference whether she came in or whether ehe stayed out. It seems to mo that such a view shows an imperfect knowledge of the situation. By China's coming into the war she dealt tho most severe ' economic blow that could be dealt to Germany. For years Germany has looked to tho exploitation of China and of Siam. For years German activity in these two countries has been extremely great. In no other countries in tho world lias German trade and influence increased more rapidly than it iias increased of recent veal's in China and Siam. When both these countries declared war on Germany the best German papers considered it one of the most serious blows dealt to their country since tho war began. By their coming into the war this is what has happened. China lias a lar< r e Mohammedan population, estimated at °30,000,000 people. In Central. Asia 'the whole of the trade between China and India, between China and Persia and Mesopotamia has been carried on by Mohammedans. It w<is believed by thoso who wished China to come into this war from the very beginning that if she were to come in the effect upon the Mohammedan peoples would bo to strengthen the Allied cause, for it meant that a Power that was regarded in Asia & great Mohammedan Power had thrown in its lot against Turkey There can bo no question that if Cl'.ina had come into tho war at the time ehe wished we would not have had many anxious months in few of Mohammedan uprising and unrest in India. " Ilien by China coming into the war sho was able to confiscate tho German shaxo of Aha-Baser ajderojity—pot a yeij- Jorge

snm, £12,600,000. It was a largo sum for China. It meant aicjo that she suspended payment of all duties duo to Gerrniui financial companies and corporations. The aggregate amount of the two meant a payment by Cliina, which is not at present a rich country, of £6000 a day to the Germans, which sum wa;, largely used by the Germans m tho l"ar liisl for carrying ou a campaign of sedition against Great jiritain especially and against tho Allies. By China coming into the war she hue terminated her treaties -with Germany. Any treaty she hits signed with any foreign nation has contained tho ' mast favoured nation' clause. China now has _ recovered her treaty independence, and it moans that when, after this war, Germany makes n.:w treaties with China thai clause will be excluded, and Germany will resume her treaty relations with Cliina on a footing thac will put her at a disadvantage in competition with 'the Allies. Then, after this war, Cliina will have a voice at tho peace conference. That also was a. great advantage to China, and will be a. great disadvantage to Germany, and it might bo a disadvantage to other Powers. In the c;iso of every German employee in China — in tho Customs, in tho salt, and_ in tho post office —overy one has been dismissed. Every German official in China has been cleared oat. The blow' to Germany in having her officials expelled from this country has been a very severe one indeed. " It seems to me, then, that 'the opinion thai it was 110 particular advantago for China to coino into tho war is one that cannot bo borne out by fjic'ts. As to the future of trado relations between Cliina, Siani, Australia, and New Zealand, it seems to me that countries thickly populated as they are offer ' heaven-sent' markets, as 'the Japanese call tlicm. But in order to bo able to develop any trade of importance with China and with Siam and' those thickly-peopled countries of SouthEastern Asia, it is necessary ill at mere knowledge should be acquired by our people. It is necessary, I think, and that is tho opinion of many, that commissioners should bo sent out to study the conditions on the spot in tho Far Bast, and to prepare for that development of trade--which may reasonably be cxpected after this war now that the competition of Germany lias been eliminated." Dr Morrison said it was no wish of liis to boro them by talking too much, and, in spite of the inducement of loud and continuous applause, ho promptly concluded his speech by again returning thanks and expressing his pleasure at being the smest of the league that evening. Professor Trueblood, who 011 rising to speak was warmly applauded, said he esteemed it a great privilege to be so honoured along with the distinguished gentleman who had just addressed the gathering. Regarding American oratory he wished to say that the stvlo had changed during the past few years—it had changed from tho florid to tho plain business style. Ho was deeply interested in the address delivered by Dr Morrison on China, as his own country was dec-ply interested in China and tho Chinese. When tho -residjent of his university was on a visits to China he was successful in inducing many Chinese students to conte over to America. After the Boxer rebellion America's share of the indemnity was fixed at £20.000,C00. Mr John Hay, their greatest Secretary of State, and one of their greatest diplomats, who was Minister at Pokin, said: "You aro sending too much; take bark £7.W0.000." This money wjis invested in a sinking fund for tho purpose of sending students to China; so he thought the Americans were partlv resnonsiblo for the republican spirit which had grown up in that countrr. Professor Trueblood! then referred to tho trouble which culminated in tho American war of independence. He said it was true there was some unpleasantness between America and England 140 years ago. (Laughter.) Ho thought however, if had had the King George _ of, to-day to deal with instead of the King George of that time, America would still have been part of the British Empire. _ They were, however, really r>roud to bo in the Tiosition of fighting side bv side with their brother Britishers.-(Loud applause.) They were not only in the war with both feet, but with both, fists as well, and they would not. rest satisfied until thev had cleansed Central Europo of that abominable plague spot-— (Applause.) The speaker then referred to th? Monroo doctrine, and to what the United States had done with regard to upholding it. It was, he said, in 1898 th f (he last of tho autocratic Powers was really driven out of the western hemisphere. Cuba, at America's very door, was suffering very much as Belgium was now suffering, and UHi United States felt it her duty to free Cuba, with the result that she was now enjoying tho privileges of republican government. "She lias a revolution onco in a while," continued the speaker, "but I think she has now established a very stable government." He thought that when this war was over they would havo effectually disposed of the Hapsburgs and the Hohenzollerns, and that such liorrora as they wero now enduring would bo for over put an end to. —(Applause.) _ As to tho question of why America did not 00m© into the war earlier. America believed it was tho duty to arbitrate. Their idea was to settle these questions round a tal>le. They had several differences with Canada, all of which had been amicably settled. There was some 4-OQO miles of frontier between these two countries, 1200 miles of which was water, and there was not a gun or a fort on the whole of that vast stretch. —(Applause.) Tho peoples of tho two countries wore continually crossing over to engage in sport of all kinds, and for the purposes of commerce. Another reason why America did not enter tho war sooner was that she felt that her shins had a right to go where they pleased. When Germany set

a line and said, "Yew. shall not cross that," that was an invitation to America to cross it, and when they sank the I/usitania and butchered innocents, and committed infamous crimes on th.o peoplo of Belgium, that was too much for tho United States, and she had to got into it. If she had not done so it would havo l>oen impossible for them to have retained their reputation as self-respecting citizens. Long before America entered tho war her sons were crossing the Canadian border and joining op with tho Canadian Expeditionary Forces. Ho noticed in an American, newspaper recently a long list of American killed and wounded, and he was assured that there wero 150.000 Americans fighting with tho Canadians. The treachery and duplicity of Germany in tho Mexican trouble was also recognised by America. It was well known that Villa was supplied with German gold. There was no doubht that America had been smitten by Germany. They had held up both cheeks to Germany, and eventually thoy had no m<sre cheeks to offer. —(Laughter.) Ho wished to sav that tho United States, when she decided to come into tho war, did not havo any referendum nonsense. —(Loud applause.) 'Hie legislators took the matter into their own hands, the same as was done in New Zealand. _ They recognised that it was not a question for tho people to decide, especially where women's votc-s wore likely to play such an important paj-t. —(Laughter.) They had what might be called restricted conscripton in the States, every man between tho ages of 21 and 31 being called upon. They now had 1,500,000 men in uniform, and ho bolie-ved that one-third of these were I<o>w in France The oolleges in America were contributing their full share of men. Each year 800,000 men would join as they came of ago. lie thought that America would be ab'.o to furnish 15,C00,0D0 men. An. important feature of this war was that it wits a war of conservatism. Tho Americans brought over a man who had been been in Belgium to look into the food question, and ho found that grain was being used for the manufacture of whisky sufficient to feed 3,000,000 soldiers for one year. Tho President put it to Congress, with the result that no grain is to bo used in manufacturing whisky during tho currency of the war. —(Applause.) In America they had their meatless days and their wheatless days, and they were only allowed a limited quantity of sugar. Still another feature of the war: It had led the President to bring to his assistance young busines3 men. It was a young business man who conceivcd tho idea of furnishing 103,000 aeroplanes, and who was utilising tho Liberty engine, which was capable of driving these machines at a speed of 200 miles per hour. _ Those machines were being turned out in much the same manner as Ford motor cars. He did not doubt that before the war was over aeroplanes would bo flying across tho Atlantic. As to what was to happen after tho war, he, for one, favoured a league to enforce peace. The purpose of that league should be to unite tho nations of the world. Lord Bryce and other prominent statesmen in Great Britain and France favoured that idea, and it seemed to him the most sensible thing that had been proposed. Just as tho civil police endeavoured to avoid fighting' between individuals, so would the League of Peace endeavour to avoid fighting between nations. "It is," Professor Trueblood concluded, "against this ruthless, frightful, inhuman military party in Central Europe that the Allied nations are fighting, and God help us to make a clean thing of it before the thing is over."— (Loud and prolonged applause.)

Sir Robert Stout, in proposing a vote of thanks to the visitors ior their eloquent and able speeches, said he looked upon the Chinesa as a noble people/ -with a noble ancestry. He favoured a league of peace «-s referred to by Professor Trueblood. "At all events," said Sir Robert, "let us try to live at peace with tho nations that speak our own tongue."

The motion was carried by acclamation, and _ the proceedings terminated with tho singing of a verse of the National Anthem.