There appears to be some doubt, not to say a little dissatisfaction, in certain gquimters ab, the atitads of the japanese in China. A useful work will be accomplished by removing it, and by explaining what may be considered the main lines and guiding influences of Japanese policy in the present difficult situation. Japan has established a claim to special consideration at the hands of all civilised peoples by the promptitude, courage, and good-will with which she provided the army that alone rendered it possible to save the Legations. If she had held back it is clear that no rescue could have been accomplished. If this much must be allowed to Japan on the ground of service, it is equally important to remember that she has answered a practical test on the score of strength. In readiness to take the field and in organisation her army has come up to a Prussian standard, and her soldiers, side by side with Europeans, have attracted attention by their efficiency, enterprise, and clan. Japanese military strength is consequently not a myth created by the events of 1894 and 1895, but a substantial reality. Many consequences flow from this conclusion, and one of them is that Japan has the right to have a policy of her own in the Far East, and that she has the means of giving it at least a chance of success, Those who think that Japanese policy should be a pale reflection of English are unreasonable, and must be disappointed. The utmost that can be expected is that the two policies should be directed to the attainment of certain common ends; but if even this result is to be attained the policy of England must be as sympathetic and as helpful to the objects of Japanese policy as a fair reciprocity calls for.
The rescue of the Legations is only a few weeks old, and already we are being told that Japanese policy towards Russia cannot be understood; while, on the other hand, there is a significant passage in one of Dr. Morrison's telegrams to the "Times" to the effect that "the Japanese openly express dissatisfaction that the British sent so much smaller a force than they claim that the Government promised," It would be going very much too far to say that "the rift within the lute" is already appearing in the Anglo-Japanese alliance, and it is probely nearer the truth to suggest that the Japanese are not going to encourage us in a feeble and vacillating policy by doifig: our work for us. They know human nature well enough to come to the conclusion for themselves that gratuitous services forced on the recipient generally go without recognition or re. ward. If they are to be induced to bri their policy into line with ours, it will only be after we have accepted w definite and binding agreement and alliance. Some people seem to think that Japan ought to blunder into a war with Russi aided probably by Germany and France, on our belait, and with " very doubtful prospect of our assistance, or, if accorde of its being oftica ud in'time, Suh expectations are destined to disappoint ment. Japan will not give the umbrage to Russia until we have committed ourselves to the same curse and pliced in the Far East an army capable of co-operate ing in the successful arrest of Rassia's advance, Two divisions of Indian troops scattered over a number of points from Hongkong to Peking are not the force to inspire that confidence; but I have already more than once pointed out this inadeqquacy and all the consequences it entails, Japan is not to be blamed for decline incur risks in her present position, She has no ambition to set the great British Empire an example as to what should be done in North China; she prefers to' follow the lead of the State which has a greater stake in the question and more means of realising it. Nor can Japan's prudence be imputed to her as an offence. She performed the special task entrusted to her, and she performed it well. The part she has now to play is one of vigilance and Instead of blaming and criticising the Japanese for not doing exactly the things which English writers expect them to do from hasty and necessarily imperfect view of the situation, it would be better if we endeavoured to realise the objects of Tapan's policy, with the view of promoting them where possible, In the first place, Japan thinks she has greater interest than any other country in preserving China as single State, for the realisation at some future epoch of great Asiatic policy based on the Far East for the Far Easterns, There are, no doubt, perils in that dream but it is still a dream, and it may always remain one. The opinion reacts, however, on the present situation to this extent—that it makes the Japanese loth to contribute actively towards the re-moral of the capital from Peking, as they believe, if transferred to any of the cities of the Yangtse Valley, that the Court and Government. would become more subject to European influences than to Japanese, Russia hax very different reasons for sharing this wish; but still, aa she is of the same opinion, it follows that Japan and Russia are for the moment in Agreement on the point, We can regard
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.