The Washington herald., 1908-05-18
ENGLAND MUST CHOOSE
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Special Correspondence The Washington Herald
Vancouver, British Columbia. April 81
Il Is Japan's proudest boast that she has
for her sworn ally the mightiest naval
power in the world, and that between
them they can command the two great
est oceans Indeed many japanese
statesmen base their assertions that
there will be no war In the near future
on the fact that the United States would
not dare 10 champion an issue which
would mean e struggle with England
and Japan, and point to the fact that
the recent treaty between England and
Japan binds them TO make common cause
the one with the other when either is in
volved in 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
be bound to support the other in case Of
war with two or more foreign nations,
The treaty made since then binds the
one to fight for the other If even only
one nation Is opposed.
But would Great Britain stand by her
treaty in case war should be brought
about between the United States and
Japan? To answer this question there
are many conditions and circumstances
which tend to point to one conclusion.
To begin with, It is a fact known Of all
men who read current history TO good
purpose that Japan has lost ground III
the English heart. England realizes that
| IL she is to keep her place as the Mis-
tress Of the Seas and her primacy in
the commercial world, she must hold
on TO every bit of international trade
she now has, and lose none Of the opPOr-
tunities that the future has in store for
her.
But Japan, sworn ally that she is. is
just now waging a commercial war
against British interests that is pr0vok-
ing many an outcry from British traders.
She is going into India, into China, INTO
Korea-everywherv that British trade
opportunities are &c be found, and is
there converting war allies into CONNER
cial enemies That the result in q dimin-
uti0n OF Englands respect for her side
partner IN the East is as plain as day.
Already the mutterings Of discomfort are
heard and evidences are multiplying that
Japan's unfair commercial policies are
beginning to react against her. a prom
inent British author states that English
public opinion is fast turning against the
/ japanese. He says:
England and Japan are in alliance.
But IL would be foolish TO ignore the fact
that the imperial and commercial policy
OF Japan must inevitably. If maintained.
strain this alliance 10 the breaking point
within a single generation. The whole
sale emigration OF japanese coolies viii
inevitably create problems involving a
choice for England between a cordial
friendship with our colonies and a part
nership with Japan; We viii have 10 de-
eide In China between offending our ally
and maintaining our treaty rights and
commercial opportunities unimpaired, F.,
and IN Korea re are already facing the
alternative Of protest, or the Limitation
of a great future market
For years England and America were
4 obsessed by the vision Of great Rus
sia, all powerful and ali knowing, NOV
( ing forward into the far East almost
with the resistleSsness OF fate. Men
marked what was thought TO be her cam
paign Of silent. exclusive, and apparently
unceasing self-aggrandizement. and the
growth OF Russia was witnessed with
dread. for II was the belief that where
Russian power spread tie prestige and
/ commerce Of other nations declined. To-
day the shadow Of the Russian COLOSSUS
I bestriding the world from the German
/ Ocean 70 the gates OF India, Overlord OF
Persia, supreme in the councils OF Pekin.
master OF Korea, owner OF ManehuFia,
| has passed.
Now we know the weakness OF the
Russian giant But that which men yes
teTday believed Russia 10 be Japan now
/ IS. PToClaiming with all possible pub
! lcity her adherence TO the doctrine Of the
open door. she has adopted a policy OF
national preference and exclusive priv
( ilege; nominsliy standing for the integ-
rity Of China, she is maturing plans that
/ can have no purpose if they do not in
/ volye the passing Of large parts OF Chin
/ ese territory into japanese hands; Korea
she has already occupied as her own par
ticular territory. She does not threaten
I India from the north by the advance OF
/ armies. but her teachers ere stirring up
unrest among the people OF India and
4 holding up visions of united East. And
I her official agents have for two years
/ there aimed directly at Lancanshire' S
most profitable market"
These considerations in themselves are
pretty strong arguments why Great Brit
ain would not take the side of Japan in
an Amerioan.Japanese var. But 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 Amer
/ lea. Wherever England has a colony she
/ finds Japan longing to send some Of her
surplus population there. Wherever the
/ Union Jack is supreme the japanese
would like to become residents. AS he
gains more power, as he recuperates from
/ the devastations Of war, that race pride
/ and self-assertiveness which is character
I istic of the japanese will, If 1t sees the
/ opportunity, insist on the right 10 20
anywhere ar any time. And that means
/ intense opposition in the English colonies.
/ Ii therefore is but a diplomatic neces-
1 sity that England should uphold America
/ in her determination to restrict japanese
! immigration. Aside from the great power
/ of kindred blood in uniting nations IN
| case of war. the interests of the two An
! glo-Saxon nations are Identical in the
matter at stake.
/ But more than this. England knows
/ too well the might and power of the
! United States. Canada is a permanent
hostage for peace between the two coun-
tries. Our armies could strike the great
trunk line railroads and stop her food
supply from there. Our own food sup
ply could be cut off from her. and priva-
/ teers could prevent the wealth of India
/ reaching her shores It is true she
would have the larger navy But how
much more would she have at stake
Though the sun never sets on her pos
! sessions, neither does Il ever set on the
opportunities to strike her. We have
enough, if all comes to all. TO support a