New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
REAWAKENING OF EAST
TROUBLE LOOKED run.
Relations of Japan and Ind'a-E"-
larged English armament.
Especial by French cable to The Tribune

Jondon Dec 2S-The year is closing WIFI
stagnant diplomacy The relations OF 'he
r,,ronean powers are so amicable IN cohSe-
cuence of King Edwards example as gooo
hunored pacifcator that the pesslmlstS are
forced to look far afield for signs OF future
,,;a.iore II is the reawakening of the
Fast that impresses them fraught with po-
tentialities Of Worldwide disturbance MI
Dooley's aphorism. there are no frlehos d'
cards or wurruld pollyticks, is cited as a suoue
forecast of coming events and there are sus-
picions that the Anglo-Japanese alliance may
not prove an effective insurance policy against
q racial conflict. Apparently it has not
strengthened British rule in India. where Count
olzr,rna has been proclaiming the expansion OF
Japanese trade and influence, nor has it tended
10 minimize the dangers Of the release OF prls-
oners on the Khedive's accession day.
There are apart from the croakings OF the
pessimists several signs that thoughtful Eng
lishrnen are not reassured by the existing stag
nation, II, ,7inloroacy one is the leading article
in to-davs spectator" on the relations OF Japan
and India with the conclusion that the brl'ish
cannot be driven out by viewy talk SO long as
the country is governed in the interest or the
governed Another is the fact that Japan. while
responding in friendly tone to Canadian rep
resentations on the immigration question. does
demand for restrictive action. but suggests the
renewal OF the ineffective understanding that
,ta number of ernieTants to the Dominion shal
moi exceed six hundred These negotiations
conducted by a member of the Dominion Min
istrv. do not warrant the conclusion that the
Foreign Office. hampered by an alliance 7lth
Janan can assist the colonies materially IN pre-
wanting the influx of alien races. The thiro
sign that world politics an unknown sea-
where tempests as well prolonged cal1ns may
he expected. is the continued interest excited
bv the cruise of the American fleet English-
men have not stopped talking about 1t as
,nomentous event in the worlds history. which
may make the new year an annus mlraollis'
The sturdy Briton whenever perpleXed by what
is going on in the world falls back upon the ira
dition that Trafalgar gave him bearings for all
time and that the navy must be strengthened
cost what il may
The irrepressible Mr. Stead. having reverted
70 naval construction after prolonged circuit
ss the missionary of disarmament, seeks noto-
rietv as an alarnist and writes one letter after
another His appeal for two Dreadnoughts IN
England for every one laid down IN Germany
would be mere effective if he were not thick
and thin partisan % Sir John Fisher against
Lord Charles Beresford. The double standaro
also becomes a fantastic measure Of sea power
when the British feet, more than equal to the
German and the American navies combined, is
demanded as an imperial necessity. Yet with
all the vagaries of the alarnsts IT is clear that
the haIf-h hearted pose taken by the British gov
ernnlent at the Hague congress in favor of re-
duced ornaments will be followed by systematic
and polite charging of the fighting power or
the navy for future emergencies.