The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-24
DIPLOMACY.

The Importance OF the controVer-
sy which has been carried on be-
tween the Japanese Government
and our own. is far greater than the
mere question of the refusal to al
low few immigrants to land. 1t
has broadened out into treaty inter
probation and Japan's Foreign Min
lister, Count Okuma, would be only
two glad to score diplomatic point
against this government which |
could be used as precedent in con-
troversy with other and larger pow
ers.
This was the underlying cause
of the original treaty with these is
lands. At that time Japan obtain
ed concessions from this govern
ment which she could not obtain
from any other power, though later
she obtained them. And it is to
this cause also that we must at
tribute the waving and apparent
disappearance of the indemnity feat
ure in the present controversy. 1t
is not for the paltry matter of lit
tie indemnity that Japan is using
the diplomatic acumen of her states
men, but it is to get foothold for
future use.
With Count Okuma it is almost
vital to obtain diplomatic victory.
Failure will mean close to his pol
itical career for the present, and it
might mean the complete close Of it
through the hand of the assassin,
as Mr.. Noyes, in an article, points
out. The assassin turks in the
background of japanese politics as
much as in the background of any
other eastern nation,
When the Hawaiian question
first broke out, there seemed every
opportunity for winning cheap
victory over an utterly oefenceless
power, but that was all changed
when on the news of the Naniwa's
dispatch to the islands, the Philadel-
phia dropped down from the Coast
and brought Admiral Beardslee a
long with her. The controversy
changed from a question between
an utterly defenceless power to a
question with one Of the greatest
powers il the world. There was
no chance Of winning cheap glory.
Now the question is, what shall
she do? She dare not commit an
overt act. for that would only hast
en- annexation, and she dare not
let go for fear of her own proletar-
iat.at home. The next news from
Japan will be highly interesting
from the point of a view of the stu
dent of international complications.
The point Of view of Count
Okuma may be somewhat elucidat-
ed by speech he made in 1895.
He was then out of Office, but he
went into office distinctly upon the
policy and with the ideas he then
outlined. He said:
The European Powers are already
showing symptoms of decay, and the
next century will see their constitu-
tions shattered and their Empires N
ruins. Even if this should not quite
happen, their resources will have be-
come exhausted in unsuccessful at
tempts at colonization. Therefore,
who is fit to be their proper successors
if not ourselves? What nation except
Germany, France, Russia, Austria, and
Italy can put 100000 men into the field
inside of month? AS to intellect ial
power. the Japanese mind is in every
way equal to the European mind. 1t
is true the japanese are small of Ia
ture, but the superiority of the body
depends more on its constitution than
on its size. If treaty revision We're
contemplated, and Japan completely
victorious over China, we should be-
come one of the chief Powers of the
world, and no Power could engage in
any movement without first consulting
us. Japan could then enter into com
petition with Europe as the represen-
tative of the Oriental races.
A man with such views is likely
to leave no stone unturned to win
a diplomatic triumph, and, in deal
ing with such a man, it was absol-
utely vital to make no concession
which might give him the appear
ance of gaining the upper hand in
controversy.