PACIFIC RELATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18521, 29 December 1931, Page 10

PACIFIC RELATIONS.

CONFERENCE AT SHANGHAI N.Z, DELEGATE RETURNS. IMPORTANT WORK ACCOMPLISHED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Monday. Mr H. F. von Haast, of Wellington, returned to-day after more than three months’ absence at the conference of the Institute of Pacific Relations at Shanghai. During the conference Mr von Haast was asked to outline the attitude of the New Zealand Government toward the continued restriction of aliens from the East. It was felt by the Chinese that New Zealand was not as friendly toward China as It could be, and that the poll tax was an Indignity to which the nation should not be subjected. The delegates were In sympathy with these sentiments, said Mr von Haast, and agreed with Ihe plea that the polltax should be removed.

The whole question of racial miscegenation was handled by the conference, and several interesting example of inter-marriage between Europeans and Chinese were produced, the result-of which had proved eminently satisfactory. It was felt by some delegates that greater attention should be paid to scientific investigation of this question and arrangements were made to have further discussions upon it. “It was thought that the old idea that half-castes absorb the vices of both races and the virtues of none might be found unsound," said Mr von Haast, “and members of the conference were agreed that the subject should be given more scientific analysis." Amerloans and Maoris. One of the most interesting things mentioned by Mr von Haast was the attitude of American delegates toward the Maori renaissance in New Zealand, upon which Mr von Haast was asked to speak. The Americans considered the re-emancipation of the Maoris was a flash in the pan, because the ultimate fate of all nal.'S races was to become absorbed by iho white races with which they lived This was the outlook which determined the policy of the United States toward the natives of Hawaii.

Impressions of troubled China, as viewed by a foreign observer, were given by Mr von Haast, who said thai anti-Japanese feeling ran exceedingly high in Shanghai, but it appeared to him that the Japanese were determined to stay In Manchuria. To a New Zealander, whose idea of the Gfliaese race was formed by association with laundrymen and market gardeners, it was an education to meet cultured, well-educated Chinese, most ot whom had been educated at Harvard or at English universities. Would be a Mistake. Mr von Haast thought it was a mistake for Britain to have abandoned the Hankow concession while Japan still had a concession there. The Chinese did not appear to appreciale the fact that Britain was willing to meet them half-way, and mistook tills spirit of conciliation for a display or weakness. A strong dictatorship was required In China to ensure, first, the establishment of law and order, and then stable government.

“There never was a time in history when China needed the foreigner more than she does now,” said Mr von liaast. “Yet there never was a time when she was more antagonistic to them and anxious to get of them altogether.” AT THE CROSS-ROADS. A FIERY" NATIONALISM. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Mr W. T. G. Alrey, lecturer in history at the Auckland University College returned by the Maunganui from Sydney yesterday. He was a New Zealand delegate to the Institute of Pacific Relations Conference in Shanghai.

“ Not only among the Japanese was there very little realisation that the military occupation of Manchuria was a challenge to the new order,” said Mr Alrey, “ but this attitude was current, too, among the generality of British travellers. The failure of international machinery would unloose a fiery nationalism among the nations that suffered from the breakdown. Chinese nationalism, for instance, is at Hie cross-roads between sane cooperation and blind passion. The lesson io 1)0 learned is not that international co-opcration through the League is not to he relied upon, but that we must make It effective by bringing the public mind to understand and support it, and to realise that tho only alternative is disaster for all and Hie sacrifice of much that civilisation lias brought.” “ That the conference could be held at such a time as Ihe present and discuss intelligently such lopics as diplomatic machinery and China’s foreign relations, which invariably involved Manchuria, Is testimony to its usefulness and the soundness of its structure,” said Mr Alrey. "It was felt by some that too much attention was focussed on China, and probably this did have some adverse psychological effects in putting the Chinese to some extent on Hie defensive. Personally, however, I think Hits emphasis was largely due to the key position of China In the Pacific area.

“ The working of diplomatic machinery in Hie East, the whole of China's foreign policy, especially with Japan, arc influenced by Hie instability of Hie Chinese Government,” added Mr Alrey. “ Tills in turn is hound up with the prosperity of Hie Chinese people, especially the agricultural masses. Improvement there again is related to tile development of Chinese industries. In both fields foreign capital and expert advice are needed. A rise In Hie standard of living of the 300,000,000 to ‘400,000,000 people of China would be a most important factor in world economy."