The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-18
ny ALFRED NJ. BRACE.


TN palace OF the ancient city Of
Pekin, whose gateway Is still
i guarded by the royal lions Of the
Manchus, oriental statesmen for
several weeks have been engaged in
a diplomatic parley. The principal
figures in the negotiations are Presi-
dent Yaun Shih-k'ai, leader Of a great
teeming population Of 400,000.000
Chinese, and NJ. Hioki. japanese Min
lister to China, representative Of a
virile race who have taken the Rising
Sun as the symbol Of their ambition
and in a few brief decades have forged
from the position OF an unknown
feudal people to that OF a first class
Power. Thus far the two Govern
ments have reached an agreement on
only few Of the items contained in
the series OF demands which Japan
has presented to China. But the hand
Of the Japanese has been clearly
shown and the discussion initiated by
the Japanese at Pekin forbodes as
significant changes in the political
world as the laundering Of the guns at
the Dardenelles.
For many years the idea Of Asia
for the Asiatic has grown and spread
in the Far East. 1t has been manifest
in the reiterated desire Of the Filipinos
for freedom from American rule and
for a government Of their own. 1t
crops forth in the strange rumor cur
rent in the interior Of China that some
day a great deliverer will come out OF
the west to sweep the foreigner into
the sea.
II is ever present in the mind of the
japanese and a part Of his dream OF
empire. 1t Is a sort Of Monroe Doc
trIne of the Far East that has sud
denly crystallized into definite form
during the present war. with Japan
as its sponsor and champion. Count
okuma. Premier of Japan, who has
Just been returned to power, has been
telling the voters, This is new era
Tor Jaran." The demands which Japan
is pressing upon China are the pro-
nunclamento by which Japan is say
ing TO the rest of the world, Hands
off"
Uostllities of the belligerents in the
Far East during the past few months
have been eclipsed for the most part
by the fighting in Europe. The hope
less stand Of the isolated German gar
rsnn at Ts!ng-tao against the Japa-
nese. the mysterious manpuvres or the
German Pacific squadron under Ad-
miral Won Spec among the island OF the
South Seas. the raid of the Emden
upon British commerce in the Indian
Ocean. these were picturesque rather
than important from a military stand
point. Now the British battle cruiser
Tt.
Tsng-tao forts on the Yellow Sea last
November in cooperation with the
japanese fleet. Is training it's guns on
the inner forts Of the Dardanelles: the
German Pacific squadron filters the
ocean floor off the Falkland Islands
and the German soldiers of Tsing-tao
await the end Of the war in their
temple prisons in Japan.
What made the warfare in the Far
East important was the rare oppor-
tun!ty given to Japan not only to re-
move Germany, her most dangerous
commercial rival In China, from her
path. hut 20 attain the dominating
position IN the Far East as well. The
Weakness Of China, the occupation or
the European Powers elsewhere ana
the l.s,ntcrcstcdness of the United
States In a problem that seems so re-
mote have been the elements in the
situation that have given Japan her
chance TO dictate to China. Together
they have made possible the present
crisis In the Far East and permitted
Japan TO force an issue in which the
whole trend Of Developments in the
Hr1. basin may be decided.
"a Monroe Doctrine for the Far
East The striking of such a note
" likely to bring a sympathetic re-
spoons, In America, where the Monroe
Doctrine Is the basis of foreign policy
and where there is widespread admira-
ton for Japan in her effort to assume
rIaa. station among the Powers OF
TIE world. Americans would probably
D." ''. first to support Japan in the
application Of "A Monroe Doctrine fol
~" f"r East If it were based upor
Principles similar to those guiding thu
policy of the United States in relation
10 sister republics of South and Cen
uai America. For in some ways thu
present position Of Japan is similar L
MAT If the young republic OF tn
United states In 1923 when Presiden
NoNo" sent his famous message 4
Congress.
The development OF Japan has bee
m'nHu"d hy Western Powers, just a
mat Of the United States in the critica
years from 1915 to 1922 was menace
BY tie aggressive policy ur the ho'
alliance in the Western Hemisphere
From NladiNostok, home Of the bea
IN 'Ae NORTH to the French port G