May 21.
Mr. 8. Yoshida, in leaving Japan to-day to take up his new post as Ambassador to the Court of St. James, is credited by Informed Japanese opinion with a special mission, He is expected to work for an Anglo-Japanese rapprochement," The task should not, be diftult for the ground is not unprepared although. at the moment Tittle encumbered. Mr, Matsudaira's great success in preserving Anglo-Japanese friendship in a period of lively controversy is gratefully recognized by British people. Tt has obviously met with august approval in Japan since Mr, Matsudaira' Inability to return to London is due to well-deserved promotion. The! traditions which have given a special sentimental value to Anglo~ Japanese relations are still virile. The frequently expressed regret at the termination of the formal alliance between the two countries may not find general support rom those who appreciate the changed conditions operative in interna: tional affairs, but it indicates a real conviction that, in spite of certain cleavages of view, the two nations have every incentive maintain that sense of comradeship Which is not dependent on contractual commitments. Mr. Matsudaira was able to derive con~ siderable inspiration from this sentiment in Great Britain. His successor will be similarly served. Mr. Yoshida is not likely to imagine that his task on that account will be immune from difieulty. His experience and intimate knowledge of the currents of world-opinion rust impress him with sense of the differences of outlook which' have developed in the two coun tries as the result of economic and political developments in Asia and Europe, Justice would not be done to him i the desire to pay smooth courtesies led to disregard neglect of those differences.
It is stated in Tokyo, with every' appearance of accuracy, that the new Foreign Minister attaches im= portance to a good understanding with Great Britain. On that account it is suggested that Japanese policy in the Far East might be hampered by an Anglo-Soviet accord. That seems to be a misreading of the situation. Great Britain's relations with Russia have admittedly improved in recent years. It is hoped that the improvement will continue. Yet it is not necessary for it to take a conerete form to the embarrassment of British friendship with Japan. Candour impels recognition of the economic anxieties which seem to bring Great Britain and Japan into acute rivalry. Steps have been taken to mitigate certain points of extreme difference, Perseverance in extending that remedial process may be properly commended to the statesmen of both countries. The assertion in Tokyo that there are no political questions which cannot be settled by peaceful negotiation should be readily accepted by them. Mr. Yoshida will find in London a Genuine desire to act on that principle. His authoritative interpretation of Japanese policy should therefore secure friendly appreciation and appropriate assistance in adjusting it to the requirements of Anglo-Japanese concord.
British perplexity over Japanese policy is at the moment derived from the course of events in the Far East, Tokyo asks that Great Britain should regard Japan as the sole instrument of Far Eastern, stability. In return British forests here are to be recognized, Much depends on the definition of these terms, Mr, Yoshida will probably be surprised to find how ready an acceptance is given in Great) Britain to the broad principle thus described, His difficulty will not! lie there. Nov is Great Britain disposed to place excessive emphasis on the divergence of view which has, for the time being at all) events, limited Japan's capacity for international ce-operation. The issue on which British statesmanship may be in doubt arises from the apparent incompatibility of Tokyo's declared policy in China with the effective impact of Japanese actions on Chinese affairs. The sincerity of Japan's desire for stability will not be questioned, but the conditions precedent to fulfiiment of that desire seem somehow to be overlooked in certain developments of Sino-Japanese relations. British friendship with China is of long-standing. Great Britain's trading interests in the Far East appropriately recognized by Japan, if Tokyo's statement is judged aright—are based on the conviction that China's successful emergence from the stress of national reconstruction is of vital importance to the world. As the leading Asiatic Power Japan has a special responsibility in that regard. Assurance of her exact interpretation of that function is} eminently desirable. It must give the key to the right way of approach to the understanding, out of which, it is hoped, true Anglo-Japanese' ce-operation in the Far East can be reformed and strengthened.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.