THROUGH JAPANESE EYES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 4

THROUGH JAPANESE EYES.

REVOLUTIONARY CHANCES IN ENGLAND. (By GONNOSIvE KOM.U. m London "Daily Mail.") In .Japan those of us who art) thoroughly conversant with the course or affairs in Europe regard the recent steady developments in England binee the outbreak of this gigantic war as most wonderful and wholesome revolutionary changes. Tho ;i Jiji tihiinpo " of Tokio—"The Times" of Japan—thus pays the following high tribute to this country under the heading "England's Revolution " : A recent London telegram states that in England the next Budget will include new tariff regulation;-. The exact meaning of the words " now tariff regulations" is still ambiguous. But if it were to mean tho partial abandonment of the present freetrade principle and the adoption of one protecting trado to a certain extent, it may be regarded as an opportunity for finding a basis of agreement which would put an end to the party strife hitherto' maintained between the Liberals and the Unionists. D-ebate may arise as to whether this decision confirms the Unionist assertion that they have advanced a step further at the expense of their Liberal opponents. Candidly speaking, the great European war has created many unprecedented changes among the various j Powers of Europe, both in their home affairs and in their But in none of those countries has the traditional system of home administration received a severer blow than , in England. To say nothing of the adoption of a Coalition Government, we see that country depart from her tradition in tho adoption of tho Military Service Act. introducing compulsory service for single men, tlio prolongation of the V f / of the present Parliament for eight months, together with tho proviso for further prolongation, if necessary, according to the requirement of the time. All these changes might fairly be regarded from a British standpoint as great revolutions, yet the nation as a whole never hesitated to put them into, practice. Sid'e by side with the Reported a'dop-« tioi of "the new Protectionist trade politsy in preference to the present and traditional one of Frectrado we can see very clearly the far-reaching effects produced in England through this gigantic struggle. "We cannot but admire the smooth and readv adaptability of the British people under the most . exceptional circumstances. We have 'seen them effect the greatest changes, almost amoun + ing to a revolution, without hitch or impediment.- Although it might be said that these have been effected under the pressure of the greatest of their national calamities, one unparalleled in their history, it fair to admit that the manner in which tliey have adapted themselves to an unprecedented situation is characteristic of their racial temperament and extraordinary instinct for practical life. PARLIAMENTS LIFE. The prolongation of the life of the present Parliament and the adoption of compulsion for single men are naturally the more important of the tionary changes Introduced into the British Constitution and British thought. _ Accord ng to the spirit of the British Constitution the sovereignty of England lies in the Parliament which promulgates legally all its laws and maintans the right to renew or abolish all such laws. Owing to the recent reduction of tho term for which the House of Commons was elected from seven years to five, a general election was duo in January last. Thus the New Year might have witnessed a great political struggle in . England ; but the present House of Parliament deemed such an internal struggle harmful for the country and decided to prolong indefinitely the parliamentary term which they had shortened once before—a cohrse that might be regarded as an abuse of the power given to Parliament, by apparently depriving the people of their right to take "their part in the management of State affairs. Indeed, in ordinary circumstances such a course might lead to a revolt of the British people. Yet l no disturbance arose either in Parliament or throughout the country. The adoption of compulsory military service for single men is indeed' an extraordinary change in the thought of the British nation. Both prior to and after the outbreak of the war a strong anti-compulsion movement existed throughout the country; and, indeed, from a practical standpoint the adoption was regarded as hopeless. Nevertheless, when it became plain that the great Derby recruiting scheme could hardly .attain its ultimate object national opinion rapidly underwent a radical change in favour of the adoption or compulsion, with the result that the Government have been enabled to effect an unprecedented revolution without /tx ,°, llscc ! l .° cxerfc their full force. \Pubho opinion has been very wisely and opportunely prepared and led by , tho ablest of the British newspapers that are guiding the whole nation towards the path of victory in this gigantic struggle—G.K.) This chango in the British system had never been foreseen by anyone, yet _it was put into practice —no impediment whatever has thusUar been experienced. _ This certainly shows that the British as a whole' are extremely and fundamentally practical. ADAPTATION OF LAW. As Lord Derby recently confessed the discouraging result of his scheme was the recruiting of single men, and public opinion now favours the adoption of equal military service for all men of military age, whether single or married. We also endorse the view that the compulsion of the single men alone can never adequately satisfy the urgent requirement of the' Army. However, we must admit that it was one of the greatest revolutions on the part of England to replace tho time-honoured voluntary system by compulsion. Indeed, we regard it as thi> greatest revolution she has hitherto achieved. We cannot but admire the ability with which the change has been brought into practice without giving rise to a single disturbance throughout tho country. Its .smooth working was secured at first by its restriction to single men and by exemptions to conscientious objectors and widowers* with children depending upon them, as also by the exclusion of Ireland and restricting tho application of tho new measure to the duration of tho war. The relief afforded to the so-callc-d conscientious objectors tends to prove that the British are the most practical nation in the world. As we are well aware, there are in England what I've called Quakers," who object, to kill any fellow-creature. Despite the fact that the aiuthority of the law is allpowerful, Englishmen know that the human conscience can never be swayed by mere mundane legality. Therefore, while adopting compulsory service thejy do not compel the.»e Quakers, thus manifesting front consideration for their eoiv.ciei-tious objectionsTliis is certainly a wen-adap-tation of tho law and of administrative policy. When we observe that these great changes, which reverse the ancient traditional system and thought- of the country, are being carried out repeatedly in England i:i a smooth and harmonious fashion, we cannot but feel tho greatest admiration for tho English people, even while recognising that they aVe drawn by circumstances to effect thia wonderful revolution' in the midst of the terrible life-and-death struggle upon which the whole future of their Empire depeud=- .