AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 25 March 1908, Page 5

AMERICA AND JAPAN.

"WONDERFUL AND MOMENTOUS PHENOMENA." COMMENT BY "THE TIMES." Received March 24, 9 a.m. LONDON, March 23. The "Times" says:--"The growth of the United States and the growth of Japan are amongst the most wonderful and momentous phenomena in the history of the world. The Japanese have never forgotten that it was to their contact with Americans that they owe the impulse which led to Japan's marvellous transformation. America is proud of the part President Roosevelt played in terminating the Russo-Japanese war, and Japan is grateful therefor. The wisdom of statesmen on both sides has dispelled the recent cloud. The American fleet will be the honoured guest of both Australia and Japan, for the Commonwealth views the action of our ally as demonstrating: friendship for a nation to whom, in civilisation of the type to \vhich both belong, it owes many of its most valued features and most conspicuous triumphs."

M. Andre Tardieu, the well-known French writer on international politics, has just published' an interesting article in the "Revue des DeuxMondes" on the present controversy between America and Japan. After a detailed review of the events and diplomatic exchanges, he comes to the conclusion that, while neither Japan nor the United States wants or is prepared for war, there is no prospect of a permanent solution of the immigration question nor of avoidiig the constantly-growing clash of rival interests in the Pacific. He says:—"The improbability of an early war is not equivalent to the certainty of a definite peace. None of the special points which have been in issue for over a 4 year have been definitely settled. For instance, in the matter of the school controversy, tha two suits designed to establish the rights of Japanese subjects have been abandoned with decision. In the matter of immigration an expedient, arranged by a diplomatic artifice, has enabled the United States ( to restrain, not to exclude, immigration. The interpretation of the Gresham-ICurino treaty remains controverted; the Japanese expect more from it than the Catifornians are willing to accord. These questions permit temporary appeasements, but also brusque awakenings. And for the latter the future may furnish many occasions. Everything indicates that hostility to yellow labour in America has rot said its last word. A few months ago British - America witnessed the same troubles, arising from the same causes. A day will come when the questions will be general, common to the two Americas. At present Jap- . anese immigration to South America j is small, hut, repelled at the North, it has already commenced in Mexico, / Argentina, Chili, and Brazil. It will be accepted until it becomes too j strong. In Hawaii, the Philippines, and Alaska, the two races clash and will continue to clash. And neither will be disposed to yield. The clash of ideas and interests may some day bring the Japanese and Americans to close quarters. M. Tardieu concludes For the present, no apparent danger; for the future, a possible danger which will weigh not alone upon the United States and Japan, but upon the Powers. France, in this affair, must wish, and does wish, a pacific solution. She is bound to the United Statse by ties stronger than treaties. She has found in the course of the late Moroccan crisis, that she could count upon the strong and active friendship of Washington."