CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12410, 21 March 1911, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.

. (To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir,— Please permit mo a few -lines bj way of reply to your correspondent signing herself "Only a Woman." §he Hay a that she fails to see " the logic oi my advice to our citizens, etc., regarding opposition to the above alliance being continued m the future, and that she "was always under the impression that such alliances were for the mutual protection, • assistance, and general wellbeing of the countries so connected, and, if this idea is correct, Australasia is surely safer under 'the existing alliance than if it were broken off." I would like to point out that while alliances 'generally speaking may be favorably re garded, this particular one is ill several important respects unique. The nearest ; approach to a precedent for it was a compact entered into at one time by iLouis Xiy v of France with the Otto■man Empire. 'At that period the French king was engaged m a severe struggle yith the , greater, part of Europe, and i there was nibre excuse for him than had he been at peateo with his neighbor's as we were when the Anglo- Japanese alli"ance was concluded. Even so his conduct m this matter was adversely criticised. An alliance with another European Power such as France or Russia js legitimate^ or even with a semi-Euro-pean -nation such as Turkey or Persia, but a definite alliance with Nippon is a violation of' the fraternal feeling that .should exist .between white . peoples, of the principle of European solidarity, which truly • wise statesmen recognise. In short, it will appear to a dispassionate mind that the treaty is little if any -less . than an impiety. , Then as to the advantage, to bo do? rived from it, and above all the "safety" of Australasia. Shortly after the alliance was concluded it will be remembered that the Russo-Japanese war took place, during the course of which we wore .very nearly drawn into war not only h with Russia but with her ally France also: Even at the present moment strained relations exist between Japan and the United States, and should hostilities break < out wo shall either have to fight our Ameripan kinsfolk or shirk our part of the -agreement with Japan. No, wo may depend* upon it that there is as much safety, /probably more, m allowing the alliance to lapse at the time of its expiry than to renew it. Bosides all this there is a general concensus of opinion that the triumph of Japan over Russia, which our alliance rendered possible, has seriously shaken the prestige of Europeans throughout the East. ■ After victories were reported the insolence, and m many cases the -aggressive behaviour of Japanese coolies and others m Honolulu and the Philipines became intolerable. It is admitted also by many thoughtful people thai) -a large amount of the unrest m jfndia is due to the spectacle presented 'to its inhabitants of a yellow race overthrowing a white one on 'the battlefield. Razors are not placed m the hands of young children, nor should modern and perfected armaments be placed in 1 the hands of an alien and colored nation, which, however, some British politicians

have done or assisted to do. It is surely quite time that we changed this, and while continuing to maintain an equitable attitude To tho Japanese nation, withdraw from the present compact whcii art opportunity stich as will shortly occur, takes place. — 1 am, etc., J. G. COX.