Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-29
PRESS COMMENTS.
England and Japan.
IN. Y. SUM-


English pubic opinion, as reflected IN
the London newspapers, has undergone
a complete change regarding the treaty OF
peace concluded between Japan and
China. 1t is now generally recognized
that whatever commercial advantages
may have been secured for the Mikado's
subjects in the Middle Kingdom, will be
enjoyed by Englishmen also, seeing that
they are by treaty entitled to the treat
ment of the most favored nation. Of
course, the competition of Japanese manu-
features cannot be averted, but the result
uant injury to British interests would be
aggravated by exciting the enmity OF
Japan; and might be mitigated by her
friendship. These considerations, coupled
with the assurance that the reported ALI
ance between the late combatants does
not exist, have had so much weight with
the British foreign office that it has re-
fused to take part in the protest made by
Russia, France and Germany against the
clause in the Chinese japanese treaty by
| which Japan obtains territory on the
| mainland of China.
In other words, the present attitude OF
Great Britain, so very different from that
assumed at the beginning of the war, is
almost iden tical with that advocated by
Mr. Henry Norman in his widely read
| and influential book, peoples and Poll
| tics of the Far East" In that work Mr..
| Norman pointed out that Japan sooner
| or later would need to enter into species
of partnership with some European ma
| ton; and the japanese he thought, are
quite clear in their own minds as to
| which nation they would prefer for an
ally. They fear Russia, they distrust
France, Germany is not powerful enough
at sea to count even If her interests in
the far East were large enough to justify
| a strong policy. Mr.. Norman's observa-
ton had convinced him that the ideal in
foleign politics of the most enlightened
Japanese is an alliance with Great Bri-
tain. What Japan needs is power at sea-
Upon land in Asia no European nation
except Russia could seriously think of
lighting her at the present time; and even
Russia might be i'll advised to engage in
such contest before the completion of
the Trans Siberian railway. But upon
the sea, relatively to European countries,
Japan is weak and upon the command of
the sea depends the safety of an island
empire
In Mr.. Norman's opinion, Great Britain
and Japan allied in the far East would be
irresistible. The one would command the
sea; the other would dominate the land.
The British fleet would keep communi-
cations open land scarcely any force which
Russia could maintain thousands of miles
from her base. could withstand the Mi
kado's soldiers. With such union, the
Corean channel might become second
Dardanelles and the Sea of Japan might
become the Black Sea of the East.
1t is probable that the protest of Rus
STA, France, and Germany against the
cession of Port Arthur to Japan, will
prove unavailing, unless it is backed by
threat of force, and oven such threat
might be unheeded, if it were known
that, in case of need, the British fleet in
the North Pacific would interpose to pre-
vent the bombardmcnt of Japanese sea-
ports. But perhaps the Cars protest is
only made for the purpose of inducing the
Mikado to put such pressure on the King
of Corea as might cause the latter to give
Russia what she so greatly coyets, the
harbor of Port Lazareff, which is open
all the year round.