PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14776, 15 October 1921, Page 9 (Supplement)

PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC.

I.—JAPAN. (By R. R. Macgregor, Ph. D.. F.R.1.A.). Not Hie least important question which was discussed during the recent Imperial Conference (I forget what other name we may call it) was what is vaguely known as the problem of the Pacific. The problem of the Pacific may be presented in several phases, and the first of these is the subject of our article. It is, in a word —.lapan. In, or about the year 1854 the Japanese Umpire was forcibly opened to Western ideas, in a few years embraced them at will, and ever since its propress has been on a colossal scale. The foreign policy of Japan is now one of determined expansion. This policy engenders our growing distrust, .or. to be more explicit, our growing fear of future trouble with our transPacific, neighbour. We have a dread that the new Pacific Power will become too strong—that Japan may become so powerful that eventually, when interests clash (as, from current, events, they seem predestined to do), our Antipodean colonies may be forced to measure, strength with a Power grown to gigantic proportions. For the reason, then, that New Zealand is, as she should be, deeply concerned wilii the future, it is of utmost importance to look into the expansion policy of Japan, to see what it has done in the past to increase the growth of this great Eastern Power. An Aggressive Policy.

Although the expansion plans of Japan had been to all intents under discussion for a number of years after 1854, the first actual increase |of a Japanese territory beyond the four main islands occupied at the forcible opening of Japan by Commodore Perry, did not take place until 1875. At this period Russia and Japan both claimed the southern half 'if the. peninsula of Saghalien and the Kurile islands. By the Treaty of 1875 Japan accepted the Kuriles, and agreed to the validity of the Russian claims in the South of Saghafien. This is of interest mainly because it marked the beginning of Japanese expansion, 'fhe Toochoo Islands were next on the programme. Their sovereignty had been long in doubt: sometimes they paid tribute lo China, sometimes to Japan. Fortunately for the Japanese plans, in 187'2 some fishermen from one of the Toochoo Islands were stranded on the eastern coast of Formosa, where they were killed by head-hunters. This gave Japan an opening to further her claims to sovereignty over the islands, and she demanded that China punish Ihe' Formosans. China demurred, holding that the head-hunters in the interior and on the east coast were beyond her jurisdiction. Finally, after much diplomatic wrangling, she consented, in 1874, to a Japanese expedition against the Formosans. This is exactly what Japan desired, and it so strengthened her position that she i seized (lie Tooehoos in 1876,' and i almost precipitated flic war between Japan and China which was yet to be, but, for which Japan was not yet quite ready. Tho Korean Question. About iBB i trouble a'gain cropped up between China and Japan, this time over Korea. The hermit kingdom, which had been more or less a vassal of China since time immemorial, bad finally opened its doors to foreign embassies, and one or more of ils ports to foreign trade. The Japanese legation at Chemulpo, occupied in building up the interests of its country in furtherance of the expansion policy, was attacked by a Korean mob, assisted by Chinese mercenaries, and the legation building was burned. War was narrowly averted at this time through negotiations between Ito and Li Hung Chang; in a treaty drawn up by them, both China and Japan agreed to withdraw all troops from Korea, and to send no more without previous notification. jThey decided that Korea should indemnify Japan, but left China the upper hand in matters of Korean internal policy. The next ten years were spent by Japan in preparation for a war which her statesmen saw was inevitable. China, ignorant alike of her own military weakness and of the growing strength of Japan, did nothing. The war came in 1894, as soon as Japan was ready for it. The result was never in doubt. By Ihe peace terms, Japan obtained Formosa, Ihe Pescadores Islands (between Formosa and the China coast), and the whole of the Liao-tung peninsula. As Liao-tung lay west of Korea, and formed a wedge between Japan and China. Korea now passed under Japanese rule. One of the clauses of Ihe treaty was almost' humorous—■ both China and Japan recognised the independence of Korea! The indemnity to be paid Japan for makimr war was £ I 2,000,000. and it was agreed that Japan should hold Wei-hai-wei. ( n the north coast of Shantung, until Ihe indemnity was paid. Japan had now an excellent strategic position, and commanded the Yellow Sea and Ihe road to Pckin. European Powers, who had no intention of seeing Japan t?ain the ascendancy in China, now stepped in. This .policy began with a combined Note to Japan from France and Russia. The result was a "grab'' for Chinese territory. Japan, with hsr native "slimncss," lo superior force, although unw'llingly. Germany look Tsing-tao, and got her hold on Shantung; Itussia took Port Arthur, in Ihe Liao-tung peninsula; France got Kwang-chau Bay, in Ihe south; while Groat Britain was fied with additional territory at Hongkong and Wei-hai-wei. Russia was now secure in the possession of Fort Arthur, and became the opponent of Japan in Korea. Rut for another ten

years Japan bided her time, and prepared her army and navy for the war with Russia. A diplomatic struggle took [dace during this Lime at Ihe Korean court between Russian and Japanese interests, and the official murder of the Korean Queen was Ihe result. In 1902 Japan's power in Ihe Fast was greatly strengthened I y the signing of [ho Anglo-Japanese Treaty. The gist of the treaty was that, should one of the sign r, n'v Lowers In me involved in a war wif i .'ino'U'i' Power, the other signatory w.s lo remain neutral; bill when altar.M d by

more Mian one Power, Hie other signatory was to come to its ass:slai!ce. This is how Japan entered Ihc 1:i 1 - world war. Her present position in the Pacific is very stroog. In addition to Ihe territories loqiiiiM as shove described, she low owns liie Caroline, Marshall and He: "v iVum's. and the much-discussed island nf Yap. Her next ari'iuN'ion will as-

suredly be Guam and ihe I'liillnp'nes, owned by the l.ni'.ed r*'l.jres of America. Given these, who i- i i say that, her next move wiil im! be in iho direction nf establishing a southern extension of her Linpu's in I h "; Pacific I