The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1911. CHINA AND JAPAN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 93, 2 December 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1911. CHINA AND JAPAN.

A cable message received in Sydney on November 20th states that the landing of Japanese troops at Chefoo is viewed with distinct disfavour by the United States, and this probably why the United States Government has formally offered China the services of 25,000 men to aid in keeping the railway open from Pekin to the sea. Foreigners in China are now believed to be in serious danger. Following so closely on the Mikado’s request that his Government should be deputed to act for the other Powers, the landing of the Japanese party is regarded as the most startling development since the rebellion broke out. Japan demands that the Powers should place their interests in the hands of the Mikado. In diplomatic circles this is interpreted to mean that Japan is unwilling to see any other nan on secure too firm a foothold in what the Emperor considers his special held of influence. According to one winter, the Chefoo landing is therefore accepted as a definite attempt on the part of Japan to forestall her American rivals before they have time to repudiate the Mikado’s offer. The antiforeign feeling is growing throughout China, and all diplomatists agree that the situation is one fraught with serious consequences. The United States is expeetd to retaliate, in which event it is feared that trouble with Japan will occur The massing of American troops and the concentration of warships arc pointed to as proof that America is determined to dominate the situation, and Japan, it is thought, may strike an unexpected blow at any time. The landing of troops by other Powers is now considered inevitable Air W. J. Calhoun, United States Minister in China, has ordered ali American subjects to take refuge in tiie Treaty ports immediately. Alost of the American residents, however, were already on their way to places of safety before the command of the Government became known, as their own opinion is that trouble with Japan is inevitable. MR KEiR HAREtIE. Contrasting the action of the Asquith Government in stopping the WellsJohnson fight and in refusing to stop Italy’s wanton attack on Tripoli, Mr Hardie, speaking recently, charged Afinisters with downright hypocrisy. There were prize lights going on in London every day, while, as regarded the war, France had done exactly the same thing in Morocco. But there was no pretence in the latter case,

because England shared in the crime, and all the big thieves of Europe were being squared by being given slices of other people’s countries u herein they might enrich themselves at other people’s expense. At another meeting he was in prophetic vein, saying that when the time came (he believed it would be soon) when there would bo a majority of Labour members in the House of Commons, with a Labour Cabinet, the soldiers would bo called out to send the blacklegs, where they ought to go. Mr Winston Churchill had said at Dundee that the Government were going to bring /hi legislation, if it was possible, to stop strikes, but this could not be accomplished. While he wanted to see all conciliation possible, the right to strike must be left unfettered and unimpaired. The time was coming when there would be iio masters and no servants, but men and women co-operating together. FIRM ACTION NEEDED. The Wellington “Post” says that a ven strong argument in favour, of compulsory military training was given at Lower Hutt by about a hundred senior cadets last Tuesday evening, v. ho indulged in much pure larrikinism. The “Post” goes on to say:— Their wild conduct proved plainly that the “insnrrectos” would benefit by a strict course of disciplinary exercises. We do not know whether the disturbance was “engineered” or not. Onr impression is that a few malcontents managed to induce their comrades to have some “fun,” which consisted in hooti ’o- jeering, and damaging the fund tin o of a church schoolroom. The mutiners were allowed to lake full charge, both inside aned outside the building. After contemptuously declining to do the part officially assigned to them, they formed a procession, and went homewards, “singing and shouting.” The police, it is stated, were not represented at the rough-and-rea ly entertainment, because no notice was sent to them. We do not blame the police, but we do blame the authorities above the police. The least bit of imagination, the least bit of

thinking, should have led the authorities to anticipate some rowdyism, by frolicsome youths, keen to take a chance to “play up.” The trouble in the Petone-Hutt district some weeks ago should have served as a warning. Boys have been urged by “anti-militarists” to break the law—and “boys will be boys.” If callow youths are allowed to flout the law openly, without punishment, the. administrators of the Defence Act will be in for a time of perpetual worry. In various parts of New Zealand it is complained that cadets and Territorials ire permitted to take a cavalier notion of their obligations. This lawless spirit must be promptly checked, if the defence scheme is to be saved iron wreckage, and the, Government should begin before the General Elections.