The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-10-22
FAR EAST DISCUSSED
BY CHINESE EDITOR

Paris Cable Letter: The question
of the Far East? All! that is a deli
cate matter Moreover, it is as COM
plicated as a Chinese puzzle"
Mr.. Li-Sum-Ling, of Hongkong, thus
replied when asked to give some of his
impressions on the situation as it per-
tains to China, Japan, Corea, Man
churia and the relations of those coun-
tries with Europe and America. Mr..
Li-SumLing is a journalist and is
identified with the progressive element
in Chinese politics. He is editor OF
the Chinese Mail and native note writer
for the China Mail. He speaks Eng
fish fluently and closely follows the
trend of foreign opinion by reading
the American and English newspa
pers.
He will remain some time in Eu-
rope, visiting England, and perhaps
America, before returning to China.
Although distinctly modern in ideas
and liberal in opinions, he is still a
Chinaman, patriotic and natural, and
thus he comes into the midst of Pari-
sian customs and costumes wearing
his native robes, silken and resplen-
dent Mr.. Lii is only twenty-six years
old, but his education and comprehen-
sion are those of an old statesman.
How unlike a Chinese city," eX-
claimed Mr.. Ii as he glanced up and
down the Champs -Elysees, and then
l.. IL
East question. In the first place,
he said, "it involves several European
nations, in a political sense. The sit
| uation will be better understood when
the relations of the Chinese Empire
with the various Powers have been
briefly explained. Since the Russo
Japanese war much attention has been
drawn to the predominance of Japan
in the Far East 1t is therefore ne
cessary to describe Japan's attitude
and her relations with the other ma
] lions.
DISLIKE FOR JAPAN.
| China has never had a liking for
Japan, although in both countries
there have been signs from time to
time of a tendency to cultivate friend
| ly intercourse. Japan's behavior was
always suspicious, but it has become
extraordinary since the war with Rus
STA. 1t is an open secret now that
Japan's policy is Asia for the Asia
tics which may be translated into
Asia for the Japanese Whether ia
pans eXtravagant expectations will be
realized, however, remains to be seen
| With special object cherished in the
bosom of the young and ambitious ma.
ton, we have heard quite recently ut.
| terances from one of her prominent
statesmen which were to the effecI
that India called for Japanese protec
ton. These statements were contra
dicted, but yet they served as a straw
to show which way the wind wa:
blowing.
JAPANESE AMBITION.
"At any rate, current events show
there is not the slightest reason fol
doubt that Japan's intention is to pre-
vent Europeans from crossing the In
dian Ocean or landing in Asiatic terri
tory, and, in order to accomplish hel
object, she must have immense re-
sources to draw upon. Therefore, she
has decided she must make use o
China, which at present is weak il
the extreme, when compared with he
island neighbor. She wants to us'
China as a field on which to conduc
her first great operation. Japan ha
I'M fbnncanAc Of
to preach Buddhism; which, if m.
reading is to be trusted, was introduc
ed into Japan from China, and it ma,
be mentioned that this system of pro
selytizing was never stipulated in an
of the treaties between China and ia
pan.
"Japan's object was to employ tn
now defunct method of European ma
lions in creating disturbances b
means of converts, and thus have a
excuse for eXtorting indemnify an
territory from China. Only a shol
time ago we heard of unauthorize
Japanese priests, who had been SNUG
gled into the western part of tn
Kwangtung province, trying to pre-
= vide protection for their converts VIII
had violated the laws of China NegC
= tiations for the deportation of thes
= undesirables are still being conducte
by the Canton Government and tt
, Japanese Consul. There are also mar
such priests in the province Of Foekil
: which as a field of operation, is MOI
: suitable to the japanese government
owing to it's proximity to the island
Formosa. Fears of conflicts betwee
I the Chinese and their illegally-col
= verified brothers are constantly ente
tanned, and the sooner this question
settled by the Chinese Governmel
with a strong hand, the better it wi
- be for the maintenance of peace
the Far East"
Mr. Lii was inclined to admit tn
" China was frequently weak in dipl
macy, but he declared that Japan,