ASIA AND THE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 40

ASIA AND THE WAR

WEIGHTY WORDS FROM A SUCCESSFUL DIPLOMAT.

ADDRESS BY DR G. E. MORRISON

On the 21st the Otago Expansion League had the pleasure of entertaining at supper two most distinguished and remarkable visitors to this country and of hearing from them 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, whose name is known the world round as the most influential European in the Far East; and Professor Trueblood, who was the original professor of oratory in Michigan University, the first University in the United States to establish' a chair on that STibject. Mr A. Bathgate presided as president of the league, and, in addition to the guests of honour, there were present the Hon. Sir Robert Stout (Chief Justice of New Zealand), the Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister, of Defence), the Hon. Mr Hanan (Minister of Education), the Hon. Colonel Collins, M.L.C. Professor Macmillan Brown (Vicechancellor of the New Zealand University), Mr John tStead (Mayor of Invercargill), Dr Anderson (Director of Education), Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., and a large number of the leading business and professional men of the community. The original intention of the league was to combine the entertainment of Dr Morrison and Professor Trueblood with a meeting- with a number of delegates from the 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. The Chairman, in welcoming and introducing the guests, referred to the fact that Dr Morrison was a native of Geclong in Victoria. —(Applause.) Dr Morrison was a man of many parts. He was not merely a traveller. He was a book lover, and his collection of works about China became so extensive and so valuable that some little time ago he disposed of it to a wealthy Japanese for some £35,000. Dr Morrison had kindly consented to tell them a little about China and its connection 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 the guests of the Otago Expansion League. it gave him preat pleasure to meet so many of the famous men of Now Zealand, and it gave him special pleasure to find that in the president they had one bearing the 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 he had made a journey across China to Burma. He had very little money, and when he arrived at Calcutta after leaving Burma his resources were practically exhausted. Not only was he destitute of money, but he had-very little clothing, and while he was there he had the misfortune to bo 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 the hills, and later still he obtained for him a position as surgeon on a ship which bro\ight 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.) The debt of money was easily repaid, . but he never could repay the debt of gratitude that he owed to Mr John Bathgate.—(Applause.) "I am now called upon." said Dr Morrison, "to speak to you about China and about China's entry into the war. It is a very large question, large as the 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 the service of the Chinese Government. Opportunity has been given to me during that long time to visit every portion of the Chinese

dominions. I have travelled —or rather I should say opportunity has been given to me 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 1 have been brought into contact with Chinese of all classes, from the highest official to the humblest coolies, and during ah" 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, covering more than four and a-half million square miles of tho earth's surface, with every advantage that can be 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 capable 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? Showld it happen that that country comes closer to the country of Japan, which t is near its eastern barriers, a combination of the efficiency of Japan with tho illimitable resources of China will make a very formidable combination indeed. Japan, now our trusted ally, hns a nopulation 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 the Korean nation, a nation of 17,000,000 people, who, under the admirable administration given to them by Japan, are 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 they have got the faculty of learning languages, which faculty has been denied—speaking generally—to the Japanese." Dr Morrison went on 'to refer to the great possibilities of the Japanese nation, and to the efficiency and thoroughness of their military svstem.

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, L 914, 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 the 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 the rights of the neutrals. Then, as you know, China and Siam both came into this war. And nothing is more astonishing to me, 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 make any difference whether came in or whether she stayed out. It "seems to me that such a view shows an imperfect knowledge of the situation. By China's coming into the war she dealt "the most severe economic blow that could be dealt to Germany. For years Germany has looked to the exploitation of China and of Siam. For years German activity in these two countries has been extremely great. In no other countries in the world has German trade and influence increased more rapidly than it has increased of recent years 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 the war began. By their coming into the war this is what- has happened. China has a large 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 was believed by those 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 be to strengthen the Allied cause, for it meant that a Power that was regarded in Asia as a great Mohammedan Power had thrown in its lot against Turkey There can be no question that if CI in a had come into the war at the time she wished we would not have had many anxious months in fear of Mohammedan uprising and unrest in India. "/Then, by China coming into the war she was able to confiscate the German share of the Boxer indemnity—not a very large sumj £12,600,000. It was a large sum for China. It meant also that she suspended payment of all duties duo to German financial companies and corporations. The aggregate amount of the two meant a payment by China, which is not at present a rich country, of £6OOO a day to the Germans, which sum was largely used by tiro Germans in the Far East for carrying on a campaign of sedition against Great Britain especially and against the Allies. By China coming ' into the war she has terminated her treaties with Germany._ Any treaty she has signed with any foreign nation has contained the. ' most favoured ■ nation' clause. China now has recovered her treaty independence, and it means that when, after this war, Germany makes new treaties with China that clause will be excluded, and Germany will resume her treaty relations with China on a footing that will put her at a disadvantage in competition with the Allies. Then, after this war, China will have a voice at the peace conference. That also was a great advantage to China, and will be a groat disadvantage to Germany, and it might be a disadvantage to other Powers. In the case of every German employee in China — in the Customs, in the salt, and in the post office—every one has been dismissed. Every German official in China has been cleared out. 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 that it was no particular advantage for China to come into the war is one that cannot be borne out by facts. As to the future of trade relations between China, Siam, Australia, ' and New Zealand, it seems to me that countries thickls populated as they are offer ' heaven-sent' markets, aa the Japanese call them. But in oirler to be able to develop any trade of

importance with China arid with Siam and those thickly-peopled countries of SouthEastern Asia, it is necessary that more knowledge should be acquired by our people. It is necessary, I think, and that is the opinion of many, that commissioners should bo sent out to study the conditions on tho spot in the Far East, and to prepare for that development of trade which may reasonably be expected after this war now that the competition of Germany has been eliminated." Dr Morrison said it was no wish of his to bore them by talking too much, and, in spite of the inducement of loud and continuous applause, he promptly concluded his speech by again returning thanks and expressing his pleasure at being the guest of the league that evening. Professor Trueblood, who on rising to speak was warmly applauded, said- he esteemed it a great privilege to be so honoured along with tho distinguished gentleman who had jus't addressed the gathering. Regarding American oratory he wished to say that the style had changed during the past few years—it had changed from tho florid to the plain business style. He was deeply interested in the address delivered bv Dr Morrison on China, as his own country was deeplv interested in China and the Cliinese. When the president of his university was on a _ visit to China he was successful in inducing many Chinese students to come over to America. After tho Boxer rebellion America's share of the indemnity was fixed at £20,000,000. Mr John Hay, their greatest Secretary of State, and one of their greatest diplomats, who was Minister at Pckin, said: "You are sending too much; take back £7.000.000. This money was invested in a sinking fund for the purpose of. sending students to China; so he thought tho Americans were partly responsible for the republican spirit ■which had grown up in that country. Professor Trueblood then referred to the trouble which culminated in the American war of independence. He said it was true there was some unpleasantness between America and England 140 years ago(Laughter.) He thought however, if the-" had had the King George of to-day to deal with instead of the King George of that time. America would still have been Dart of the British Empire. They wore-. however, really proud to be in the nosition of lighting side by aidte with thoif brother Britishers.-(Loud applause.) They were not only in the war with both feet, but with both fists a* well, and they would not rest satisfied until they had cleansed Central Enropo of that abominable plague spot.— (Applause.) The speaker then referred to th? Monroe doctrine, and to what the United States had done with regard to upholding it. It was, he said, in 1893 th** the last of the 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 the United States felt it her duty to free Cuba, with the result that she was now enjoying the privileges of republican government. "She has a revolution once in a while," continued the speaker, "but I think she has now established a very stable government." Ho thought that when this war was over they would have effectually disposed of the Hapsburgs and the Hohenzollerns, and that such horrors as they were now enduring would be for ever put an end ■ to. —(Applause.) As to the question of why America did not come into the war earlier. America believed it was the duty to arbitrate. Their idea was to settle these questions round a table. They had several differences with Canada, all of which had been amicably settled. There was some 4000 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.) The peoples of the two countries were 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 ships had a right to go where they pleased. When Germany set a line and said, "You shall not cross that," that was an invitation to America to cross it, and when they sank the Lusitania and butchered innocents, and committed infamous crimes on the people of Belgium, that was too much for the United States, and she had to get into it. If she had not done so it would have been impossible for them to have retained their reputation as self-respecting citizens. Long- before America entered the war her sons were crossing the Canadian border and joining up with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He noticed in an American newspaper recently a long list of American killed and wounded, and he was assured that there were 150,000 Americans fighting with the Canadians. The treachery and duplicity of Germany in the Mexican trouble was also recognised by America. It was ■well known that Villa was supplied with German gold. There was no douhht that America had been smitten by Germany. They had held up both cheeks to Germany, and eventually they had no more cheeks to offer. —(Laughter.) lie wished to say 7 that the United States, when she decided to come into tho war, did not have any referendum nonsense.—(Loud applause.) The legislators took the matter into their own hands, the game as was done in New Zealand. They recognised that it was not a question for tho people to decide, especially where women's votes were likely to play such an important part.—(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 had 1,500,000 men in uniform, and he believed that one-third of these were now in Franco The colleges in America were contributing their full share of men. Each year 800,000 men would join as they came of age. He thought that America would be ablo to furnish 15.000,C00 men. An important feature of this war was that it was a war of conservatism. Tho Americans brought over a man who had bei>n been in Belgium to look into the food question, and he found that grain was being used for the manufacture of whisky sufficient to feed 3,000,000 soldiers for one year. The President put it to Congress, with the result that no grain is to be used in manufacturing whisky during the currency of the war. —(Applause.) In America they had their meatless days and their wheatless day?, and they were only allowed a limited quantity of sugar. Still another feature of the war: It had led the President to bring to lr's assistance young busines3 men. It was a young business man who conceived tho idop. of furnishing 100.000 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 weio being turned out in much tho same manner as Ford motor cars. He did not doubtthat before the war was over aeroplanes would be flying across tho Atlantic. As to

what was to happen after tho war, he, for one, favoured a league to enforce peace. Tho purpose of that league should be to unite tho nations of the world. Lord Bryce and other prominent statesmen m Great Britain and Franco favoured that idea, and it seemed to him the most sensible thing that had been proposed. Just as the 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 m 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 for their eloquent and able speeches, said he looked upon tho Chinesa as a noble people, with a noble ancestry. He favoured a' league of peace as referred to by Profsssor Trueblood. "At all events," said Sir Robert, "let us try to live at peace with the nations that speak our own tongue." The motion was carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem.