The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 1894.

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3500, 29 November 1894, Page 4

The Waikato Times. AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 1894.

Equal and exact justice, to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

It is hardly open to question that thfi power of China to resist the onward march of Japan is completely broken. It is equally manifest that the active enemy on her territory will not allow her time to re-organise her forces. Japan is now in the position to dictate any terms she likes, even to the length of deposing the reigning dynasty and placing the Mikado upon the throne. Will she attempt this extreme measure and if she does will the Western powers remain neutral spectators of the revolution? Mr Curzon, who for some years has been making a study of Asiatic politics, has just published a book, "Problems of the Far East." The book throws much light as to the causes which have led up to the war and gives most convincing reasons why the result could only be what it is. In writing of Japan, Mr Curzon says that her finance, commerce and manufactures are all in a flourishing condition. The production of cotton goods is increasing at a rate which threatens Bombay as well as Manchester with a ruinous competition, Japan has the markets of China at her door,, she can deliver excellent coal at her mills at 5s Gd a ton, and can command abundant labour at from 3d to Gd per day. It is under these conditions, not wonderful, that her increase in the import of raw cotton has, in the period between 1887 and 1892, been elevenfold, and that her importation of manufactured cotton has decreased 44 per cent. The army consists of between fifty and sixty thousand men on a mobilized peace footing, with a reserve of 113,000 and a Lanciwher of. 80,000 all armed, equipped, and drilled according to the highest standard of the 19th century requirement. Japan is, however, above all things a maritime power, and it is upon her navy she especially prides herself. To use Mr Curzon's words, "She foresees that a great Pacific question may at no distant day arise, and when it arises she aspires to play a great part in. its solution. The opening of the Pacific route across Canada' to Europe, the ultimate coriiDletion of' a canal through 4 n America, the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway, and the sudden development of Russian ambitions which may be expected to ensue, the growing connexion of the Far East with Australasia, and the increasing rivalries of the Great Powers in the Pacific. All seem to .show that such a question is maturing, and that when it does mature its ramifications will be wide and its dimensions great. It is largely through the value of he»* maritime alliance that Japan hopes then to control the balance of power in the Far East," Mr Curzon believes that this ambition can only be gratified by the establishment and maintenance of a cordial understanding with China, the decrepitude'of tile Government of that country is very difficult to cure. At the head stands

the Sun of Heaven, a kind of state prisoner behind the walls of the mysterious " pink-forbidden city." He is little more than a puppet in the hands of others. He owes his position to a court intrigue carried out by two Dowager Empresses, the survivor of whom 1 is still the real ruler of the land. The Emperor has some sagacious advisers. As to the army its weakness has been proved. Colonel Mark Bell reporting to his Government upon it wrote not long since, " China has no military strength and must be valueless to us as a military ally during the next several decades," It is not only Japan which threatens her independence, and if she is to save herself from Russia a system of strategic railways and an efficient army and navy are absolutely necessary. Mr Curzon says in this regard :•" It is Russia who threatens her frontiers in Chinese Turkestan, and in the Pamirs. Russia who is always nibbling in scientific disguise at Tibet. Russia who has designs on Manchuria; Russia whose shadow overhangs Corea, Russia who is building a great transcontinental railway that will enablfl her to pour troops into China at any point along 3,500 miles of contiguous border. However, long Russia may find it politic to postpone a forward move, her advance, when finally made, across the outlying western portions of the Chinese Empire, inhabited as they are by a Mussulman population who have no loyalty towards their present masters, will be a military promenade, attended by little fighting and by no-risk. Meanwhile, a frontier which might with certain modifications be rendered almost impregnable continues by its ostentatious helplessness to invite the enemy's assault." Japan is fully alive to the tact that it is with Russia she will liave to ,struggle for the position to which she aspires, and her public men fully recognised the danger that war with China would afford Russia a pretext to interfere in Corea, but they appear to have thought it more politic to risk this than that only the effete Chinese Government should bar the advance of the Muscovites. It is not only Japan which is interested in keeping Russia in check, if she got possession of Corea she would be paramount in the far East and the trade of the world in Eastern Seas, would be at her mercy.. Recognising a3 all Powers must th.it China is incapable of taking proper measures to protect her own territory, under her present form. of Government, a reason is afforded for their looking with complacency on the assumption of control by the capable Japanese, as being the only effective means of checking the onward march of the patient and persistent Russians, which it is to the interest of all to keep within bounds. China in their hands and under their control the independence of all would be endangered. It is quite within the range of possibility and: probability that unless China is brought to a state of preparedness to resist aggression, that the day is not far distant whon the Russian flag will float over Pekin. The enormous population of China trained to arms and under Russian control, nothing could stop the latter power from overrunning both continents. The outlook has a most serious aspect for the whole world.