The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-18
Which Will England Choose.

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Which Will E
NY FREDERIC J. HAsI<IN.
Vancouver, b. c. ts
It is Japans proudest boast, that she
has for her sworn ally the mightiest
naval power In the world. and that be-
tween them they can comma command the h,
Japanese statesmen base their iasser-
lions that there will be no war In the
near future on the fact that the United
States would not dare to champion
an issue which would mean strug-
gle with England and Japan. and point
to the fact that the recent treaty be-
tween England and japan binds them
to make common cause the one with
war with another nation. 1t will be
recalled that prior to the close of the
Russo-Japanese War the treaty agreed
that the contractors should each DO
bound to support the other In case
tions The treaty made since then
binds the one to fight for the other
II even only one nation is opposed.
But would Great Britain stand by
treaty In case war ssouId Dc
question there are many conditions
and circumstances which tend to point
to one conclusions. TO begin with, IT
current history to good purpose that
Japan has lost ground In the English
heart. England realizes that II She Is
to keep her place as the mistress OF
the seas, and her. primacy In the com
every bit OF international trade she
now has, and lose none OF the oppor-
tunities that the future has in store
for her.
Is Just now waging q commercial wac
against British interests that is pro-
voking many an outcry from British
traders. She Is going into india. into
China. into. Korea-everywhere that
found, and is there converting war al
lies into commercial enemies. That the
result is diminution of England's
respect for her side partner in the
mutterings Of discomfort are heard and
evidences are multiplying that Jnpan's
unfair commercial policies are begin
ming to react against her promi-
nent British author states that Eng.
fish public opinion !. fast turning
against the Japanese. He s:ys:
England and Japan are IN alliance.
But It would be foolish to Ignore the
fact that the imperial and commercial
policy of Japan must inevitably, II
maintained. strain this alliance to the
breaking point within single gen.
Grafton. The wholesale emigration OF
Japanese coolies Will inevitably Gre
ate problems involving choice for
England between cordial friendship
with our colonies and partnership
with Japan: we Will have to decide In
China between offending our ally and
maintaining our treaty rights and CONF
mercial opportunities unimpaired: and
in Korea we. are already facing the
o1 a iva 0f ~ oct or limit 70.
|tion Of a great future market.
For years England and America
were obsessed by the vision OF great
Russia, all powerful and all knowing,
moving forward into the Far East al
most with the resistlessness of fate.
her campaign Of silent. exclusive and
apparently unceasing self-aggrandize-
ment, and the growth OF Russia was
witnessed with dread, for 1t was the
belief that where Russian power
other nations declined. To-day tho
shadow of the Russian colossus be-
striding the world from the German
Ocean to the gates of India, overload
LOT Persia. supreme in tho councils OF
Alanchuria. has passed
Now we know the weakness of the
Russian giant But that wht.h ncn
yesterday believed Russia to be Japan
uoW WIN a. t1oos 80
publicity her adherence to The doc
trine of the open door, she has ABORT
ed policy OF national prataren:. AMI
exclusive privilege; nominal!y stand
ing for the integrity OF China, sh.. is
maturing plans that can have no pur-
pose If they do not involve the passing
Of large parts of Chinese territory into
Japanese hands; Korea She has already
occupied as her own particular te,ri.
tory. She does not threaten mia from
the north by the advance OF ar.ntes. bit
her teachers are stirring ZIP unrest
among the people of India. and hold.
ling up visions Of a united East. And
her official agents have for two wears
been at work OH a great trade cam
paign there aimed directly at Lam
cashire's most profitable market"
These considerations in themselves
are pretty strong arguments Why
Great Britain would not take the side
of japan in an Americana Japanese war.
IRut they are not half so strong as the
fact that the only thing which could
bring about a war between the United
States and Japan is the very question
| in which England has even a greater
interest than America. Wherever Eng
Hand has a colony she finds Japan
longing to send some OF her surplus
population there. Wherever the Union
l. Jack is supreme the Japanese would
like to become residents. AS he gains
more power rs he recuperates IRON
the devastations of war, that race pride
mons boom nor musket's rattle. but