POWER IN THE PACIFIC

Southland Times, Issue 16688, 17 March 1911, Page 5

POWER IN THE PACIFIC

uAPAN, THE DISTURBER. EFFECT OF AUSTRALASIAN ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph.—Pre« Association.—Copyright,) LONDON, March 16. Received March 16, 10.24 p.m. The “Morning Post” states that Britain is dependent on Japan's tolerance in the Pacific, and that the antiJapanese emigration policy In Australia, New Zealand and Canada creates antagonism which Is quiescent owing to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The position is full of explosive elements, and the Empire must be prepared to maintain a one-power naval standard in the Pacific. It is evident that Australia and New Zealand are willing to assist. It is apparent that the United States interference in Mexico is an effort to secure suzerainty over Panama Canal. There are rumours of the landing of Japanese coolies in Mexico^ —nominally Industrial workers, but really trained soldiers similar to the Japanese in Hawaii. AMERICA AND JAPAN. SIGNIFICANCE OF MEXICO EVENTS BERLIN, March 16. Received March 16, 11.30 p.m. Herr Reyentlow, in a statement on the balance of power in the Pacific, whereon events in Mexico have an indirect influence, declares that Russian defeat is assured by Japanese Influence in the Far East and recalls Admiral Dewey’s remark at Portsmouth that America ought to have attacked Japan earlier. The tension following the Californian schools controversy lasted until the visit of the American fleet induced tranquility. Japan was then modernising her fleet and was unprepared for war. The unsuccessful effort to neutralise the Manchurian • railway led to the Russo-Japanese agreement, wherein probably there were secrot clauses; hence America’s feverishness to fortify Panama. Japan required supremacy in the Pacific so as to retain Chinese markets against America. The reason for an American commercial base in the Philippines was that it would counteract Japan's geographical advantages, and would also become a powerful naval base before the American fleet excels tho Japanese. There are sixty-six thousand Japanese in Hawaii capable of bearing arms, and only a thousand American troops, this justifying General Homer Lea’s dictum that tho Japanese could capture from within. A JAPANESE STATEMENT. TOKIO, March 16. Received March 17, 12.5 a.m. Rumours of Mexico giving a naval base to Japan are attributed to the Tokio Steamship Company’s application for a coal depot. ✓