KOREA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14284, 26 August 1910, Page 5

KOREA.

«3» ANNEXATION BY JAPAN. Press As»ociation-By Telegraph-Copyright Received 9.55 p.m., August 25th. LONDON, August 25. The convention for the annexation of Korea has been signed and will be proclaimed on September 13th. Britain does not object, politically, but is unable to outline the commercial effect until the conditions acoampanying the annexation are published. The German Government considers that annexation is a natural sequence of events. The economic conditions will be discussed during the forthcoming negotiations for a treaty of commerce between Germany and Japan. The " Times " in commenting upon Japan's momentous decision, says that Japan heretofore had the option of withdrawing from the mainland. She holds tho Liaotung Peninsula and the South Manchuria railway leases determinable by a term of years. Tho protectorate of Korea was not necessarily permanent, and some Japanese regard the change with misgivings. The railway projects in Northern Korea show that Japan is aware of her new and grave responsibilities, nevertheless the die was cast when China renounced her claim to Korea and Japan undertook the responsibility of internal reforms. Every step since has been consecutive and inevitable. The "Times" trusts that Japan's statesmen will remember that the world will watch .her future policy in Korea with much expectation, and some anxiety. It will be deplorable if the original inhabitants are submerged under Japanese immigration. Japanese expansion was doubtless a political and economic necessity, but Japan will fail to win the approval of civilised nations unless annexation is also ultimately materially of advantage to a gentle, unworldly and not unkindly race.