The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1913. JAPAN AND AMERICA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 50, 4 July 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1913. JAPAN AND AMERICA.

Although not prepared to believe that Japan and the United States would fight over the Californian Land Bill, the London "Spectator,"" writing at the end of May, remarked that the possibility of war was causing much anxiety throughout the British Empire. Britain and Japan being allied by treaty, it was thought that if war broke out between Japan and t'k United States, Britain would necessarily bo drawn into the struggle. The "Spectator" referring to the terribly ' grave results of such a conflict, reminds ns that Englishmen would b( fighting with Asiatics against their own kith and kin, and the sympathy of the British Dominions—particularly of Canada and Australia—would unquestionably be very strongly with the Americans. Australia has framed alien laws which prove her to be in favor of the anti-Japanese principle of , the Californian Land Bill, and the Canadian practice in relation to Asiatics, though less rigid than the Australian, loaves one in no doubt about Canadian feeling. But to look at the prospect of a war in which Britain would be righting for a principle that is anathema, to her own Dominions is anathema to her own Dominions: could survive such an outrage to the feeling!, of a large and important part of Its white population. "If the Japanese should think the right to live on equal terms in all countries of the world worth fighting for," the "Spectator" adds, "they are more likely to take the step soon than late. 'Now

or never!' is a strong incentive to all men. The cry has a particular cogency and meaning for the Japanese at present. So long as the Panama Canal remains unopened the American Atlantic and Pacific fleets are divided. The Pacific fleet is cut off from naval reinforcement by the whole distance round the Horn. That is an enormous advantage to the Japanese, who may well contemplate the seizure of

Honolulu and the Philippines in the event of war. We sincerely hope that even this strong spur to precipitancy

may not shake the Japanese people out of their proved good sense. We think it will not, and in any case Englishmen need not assume that Britain will necessarily be a party to the struggle."