Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-08

in the Anglo-Japsnese treaties, always sent a
police man privately TO warn the offender that
terrible though unspecified penalties would be
visited upon him unless be Immediately ceased;
a warning which was invariably effective. NOW,
however. In response TO any such eommonlca-
tons the foreign Office simply replies that I'M
fortunately English trademarks are not pro.
tected by treaty. and so the proprietors OF Bass
ale and Pears soap and Worcestershire sauce
appeal in vain. All this is very unpleasant, but
it Is also very natural IF foreigners expect
favors" the Japanese naturally argue, they
must show them; the man that would have
friends must show himself friendly. And such
a state OF affairs is the more unfortunate, be-
cause if England had been well guided here no
power could approach her In influence and
popularity.
WHAT JAPAN WILL DO.
il is in consequence of this incomprehensible
attitude that nobody knows whether England
would assent. with the United States, Germany,
and Russia. to Japan revising the treaties with
out consulting the other twelve treaty powers.
One thing however. is certain, and that Is. that
if England neglects the coming last opportu-
nitv to lead or to Join hands in this matter, she
viii wake up some fine morning TO lind that the
thing has been done over her head. For there
is another thing more certain still-that Japan
Is determined to secure the independence
which is hers by every natural right and every
treaty stipulat ton. and she is prepared to pay
almost any price for it. Therefore her course
seems clear. She will privately assure herself
beforehand of the assent Of the United States,
which is to be had for the asking, and that of
Germany and Russia as well, which, as
/ have said. would hardly be refused,
and then she will simply "denounce" the
existing treaties. "Denounce" is, OF course,
a legal term. implying no hostility What this
action would amount to. in everyday language,
is simply this: some morning the representa-
tives of the 16 Treaty Powers would receive an
identical note saying, 'As Is our right by treaty
we beg TO give you notice that after a certain
date the present treaties existent between us
will cease to be operative. We have had more
than enough of them" The American minis
ter and fancy the Russian and German min
tiers as well (for either Of these countries
would be able to make a very good bargain for
themselves and very bad bargain for England
OF: of such a step, would instantly reply, "Bv
all MEANS" and where would England be then
Simply ignored, left out in the cold, che X
mated. humiliated-her commerce injured, her
prestige in the Pacific gone.
CHINA AND JAPAN.
To make the situation quite clear there is one
other remotely possible contingency to be men,
tioned-a contingency, it would be safe to
wager, that has not yet entered anybodys head
in Downing street or in Washington. The
weak point in japanese foreign politics is
China. Japan fears China and China distrusts
Japan. Count Ito, however, by great diplo-
matte skill and frankness has recently con-
WINGED Ii Hung-chang that this misunderstand-
ing is as unnecessary as it is harmful. Now,
China very much wants one thing which Japan
has to give. Never mind what that thing il;
it is an open secret and the fact may be taken
for granted. Moreover. Japan is quite ready
TO give that one thing for something substan-
tial IN return. But what more substantial could
she desire than defensive alliance with China.
limited possibly to common action for aspeciied
period in defense of the abolition of extra
territoriality? This is q,rid pro quo that the
astute Chinaman at Tientsin would probably be
only too happy to give, because he knows very
well that the powers will not go to war for their
wretched treaties, and so he would get his big
prize for nothing. And if this little arrange
ment, unlikely as it seems. should come to
light some morning. with the United States
locking complacently on. what a pretty posi-
ton the powers would be in then! 1t would be
FOOLS mate with a vengeance.
In conclusion. / must not neglect to state
that nothing in the past action of the japanese
government points to such step asI have here
outlined and advocated. On the contrary. they
have been astonishingly patient and pacific.
have written however, in the conviction that
they are very likely to find some day that no
other course is left open to them. At the
present moment they would probably repudiate
the notion. HENRY NORMAN.