The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
strained as IL is In Great Britain. but It is GER
tainlv less restrained than IL is in Spain. Italy
or South America.

strained as It is In Great Britain. but It is GER
tainlv less restrained than IL il in Spain. Italy
or South America.
In the concluding chapter OF this book the
author discusses the present and prospective
relations OF Japan to the other powers inter-
eeted In the Far East. He considers that, OF
late years. the tendency OF politics on the
Pacific coast Of Asia has been to impel English
and japanese interests into channels which. II
not altogether identical in theory. are nearly
so lin practice. Especially during the last
twelvemonth has 1t Iecome evident that, IL
certain powers persist In pushing an agrees
sive policy in the Far East. they will reach
point which neither England nor Japan will
allow them to pass. In such an eventuality
England and Japan will be constrained to act
in concert The combined fleets of these two
countries would have no difficulty in becom-
ing masters Of the sea and OF the coast
lines OF that part OF the world. The Chinese
littoral and the basin ofthe Yang-tse- kiang can
be saved through maritime ascendancy. Mr..
Ransome admits, however. that, north OF the
Gulf OF Pechili no possible com bination OF the
forces OF other nations can permanently with
stand Russia's advance through Mongolia and
Manchuria and her ultimate absorption OF
northern China. SO long. however. as Pekin
continues to be the political capital OF the Middle
Kingdom. it is essential to the interests of the
commercial powers that Russias acquisitions
should not reach southwark as far as that city.
Just now there is alleged to be an UNDER
standing between Great Britain and Russia as
to the Far East and 1t Is said that to this I'M
derstanding Germany Is party. But the fact
remains that Russia Is England's most danger
Gus political enemy in Asia. and that Germany
is her most inveterate commercial opponent.
France. moreover. until she shall have realized
tho one-sided nature OF the bargain she has
made with Russia. cannot be numbered among
the friends Of Great Britain in the Far East. 1t
may happen. therefore. that England will have
to face in that part OF the world the united
strength OF Russia. France and Germany:
which, however so far as maritime warfare
is concerned, would not be a formidable
ordeal provided Japan were neutral and
the United States sympathetic onlookcrs. III.
on the other hand. Japan were to cast her lot
with Russia. France and Germany against
England. the situation would be very different.
No such coalition could take place unless Rus
STA and Germany were powerful enough to
coerce Japan Extreme pressure would be
required. for the japanese have greater
horror Of Russia than Of any other nation.
They recognize. on the other hand the politi-
cal ana commercial strength OF the Anglo
Saxon race. and have a greater respect for
Englishmen and Americans than they have for
the people OF any other country.
1t Is MIR. Ransomes conviction that England
would find In Japan powerful and loyal CO.
adJutor. Possessed as are the Japanese Of
determination and endurance and a rapidly
growing knowledge OF modern warfare and
its methods, he knows OF no ally In that part OF
the world that could be compared with them.
so far as sea power is concerned. England and
JaV .al,- III
corners: the interests and authority OF these
two countries could be upheld exclusively by
means OF naval warfare. Neither wishes to
acquire territory In Russia or in central China.
and. in the event OF war their energies could
be entirely devoted to dealing with the ships
and holding the coast line of the enemy. In
fact. as matters now stand. Japan and England
could. by playing a waiting game after hos
Utilities had begun. bring about n coal famine
which would cripple. IL not parayze. their
opponents. including Russia. II the season OF
the year were well chosen.
What are the prospects OF foreigners in
japan under the revised treaty by which their
extra-terrtoral rights have been abolished2
Formerly. II an Englishman. for instance.
committed n theft. he was tried not by
Japanese Judge but by the nearest British
consular court. In civil cases. where one party
was Japanese and the other a foreigner. the
suit was carried into the court OF the de-
PENDANTS nationality. The effect OF the
vised treaties. on the other hand, is to
place all foreigners under Japanese law. Mr..
Ransome holds that 1t was high time
for the change TO be brought about. lie
insists that British subjects stand in
far greater need of oxtra-territorial rights
in any Of the South American republics.
in the Transvaal. in Spain. Portugal or Russia
than they do in Japan at the present day lie
points out that the Japanese legal code is an
excellent one. and that the men by whom it is
administered are sober-minded and compe-
tent. lie does not believe. in fine. that the
Mikados Government will take advantage OF
its new power to render the position OF tho
foreigner untenable in japan. for the reason
that the national interests lie in the opposite
direction. We should mention. however, that
our authors opinions are not shared by the
majority of English residents in Japan. who.
on the contrary, regard the outcome Of the re-
vised treaties with deep misgivinR.
n. W. II.