Feb. 13.
The seizure of Waichow Island in the Gulf of Tongking, and about thirty miles south of on January 31, was the first proof of the' invasion of those walers by the Japanese, and to some extent might have! tbeon regarded us notice of Japanese intentions with regard to Hainan. With Waichow Istand as a base the Japanese were perfectly well able to command the northern end of the Gulf of Tongking, and for this reason it is contended that the occupation of Hainan Island is in fact unnecessary from a naval point of view. At a time when various] military preparations on the European continent suggest the proximity of another crisis, Japan has seized the opportunity to secure this important strategic point, regardless of! her solemn commitments to France as record ed in the Franco-Japanese exchange of notes in 1907. It is understood that the Bri and French governments are instructing] their Ambassadors in Tokyo to enquire of the Japanese Government the rea sons for, character and duration of the occupation, and it is upon the reply received that their future policy regarding the matter] vill be decided. The terms of the Franco-
Japanese Noles of 1907 do not alone cover the matter. Since last June the Japanese] have on several occasions given hints that at some time or other they might, for military Feasons have to consider landing on Hainan, but have always accompanied those hints with' the assurance that no permanent occupation is} intended. The number of assurances whi Japan has given with regard to the China incident are legion, and the total of those which have unto the present not been honoured is imilar in number. It is consequently to be anticipated that this "temporary" occupation of Hainan Island will have about it that degree of permanency which will be wholly) unacceptable to either Great Britain or} France, and it may be accepted as just another of those incidents which have been piling up during these last eighteen months contributing to the deterioration of a already unfortunate. The attitude of the Japanese press in the ter is as significant as it is interesting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.