PROBLEM OF THE EAST.

Southland Times, Issue 14635, 27 January 1911, Page 5

PROBLEM OF THE EAST.

SPEECH BY LORD CURZON ON VARIOUS PHASES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 26. Received Jan. 2C, 11.35 p.m. Lord Curzon, late Viceroy of India, in a rectorial address at Glasgow University, discussed the demand of the East for representative institutions. There had been an enormous change during the last decade. The personal ruler still appealed to the Oriental; but where absolution was accompanied by defiance the national spirit was at last willing to borrow western methods. This was a symptom of the reviving self-conscious-ness of the Oriental mind. Referring to coloured labour objections of Australia, South Africa, Canada and America. Lord Curzon said that these were not based on prejudice alone, but had economic justification. There was a danger, lest it should attain serious proportions. The British, with their liberal and humanitarian ideas, should be leaders against prejudice, especially as the coloured races within the Empire outnumbered the whites. The Eastern world seemed everywhere to involve a revived sense of national pride, coupled with resentment against foreigners. Possibly if foreign capital and protective instruments were withdrawn the East would incontinently collapse; but the East was aspiring to walk alone. Behind this desire was a certain feeling of injured self-respect. The East was unlikely to accept Christianity. China’s future depended mainly on whether Parliamentary Government had a dissolvent effect inside the Empire. If China proved able to preserve her unity and organise industry and commerce she must become one of the greatest powers. The selfcentred and unwarlike character of the Chinese rendered it improbable that they would utilise their power for aggression. China contained enough unoccupied territory for double her present population. Japan’s principal need was to preserve the national virtues of self-sacrificing patriotism and simplicity which keen observers reported to be in some jeopardy—also to check Socialistic doctrines among the industrial proletariat. Korea, Manchuria, and Saghalien'would suffice Japan’s surplus population for a while. If the present attitude of America’s and Britain’s overseas Dominions in prohibiting Asiatic immigration was maintained it might lead to conflict. The Philippine Islands were perilously near Japan, hut within the tropics, where it was doubtful if Japanese would be able to settle and work.