The situation is an: extraordinarily complex one, and one, moreover, which was never foreseen by. the Sponsors of antieway pacts snd nett legislation. War psychology not governed by. the undine tary rules of logic oF reason Rights for which the Japanese people would lamour, were the roles reversed, are regarded by them where neutrals are concerned, as hostile pretensions. aver often wished that it were pos: sible for more hot-headed of the panese to imagine shat wottld have been the reaction of their wwn instead of Japan, Involved. in the prevent coniliet, and were Japanese, Instead of British, interests. over Fidden or placed. in jeopardy. Ts it to be supposed that if in 1907 as a result of provocation to Great Britain, at least ae rear. as any that Japan has suffered at Chinas hands, had occupied large areas of China, closed the Yangtsze and the Pearl River to all neutral trade and trate for months on end, attempted to impose on a large freet of territory a Lrtitcial " currency. and. virtually blockaded the Japanese Coneessions, the Japanese would have been satis: fled with the explanation that their neutral resentment. and. objections were due to "a lack of understanding?" "Is-it conceivable that. the adoption of a grandiose British plan for a "New Order in Asia" would Taave met with Japanese and approval Regardless of the rights wrongs of the present coniliet—upon which the peoples of the democracies hold very decided views—one help fling that Jape has played [her cards very badly: Unnecessary antagonism among the Anglo-Saxon powers. Geographical propinquity and straightforward competition would in due course have gained for her many of the advantages she is now secking to obtain Ly" discriminatory and. other measures. And when even such authori= ies as her Ministers of Pinance re-agnize the ultimate necessity of Securing increased foreign investments. In China one can but wonder at the shortsightedness of those who are piling up a debit balance of li-will,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.