Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-23
JAPAN AND GREAT BRITAIN.


Battling as is the diplomacy of the European
Powers in the Orient, indications are not lack
ing that Japan and Great Britain are drifting
apart
There is story which came to Honolulu the
other day, with the backing of unusual author
ity, to the effect that when Baron Hayashi was
in London negotiating the now-famous Anglo
Japanese treaty, Prince Ito was in st. Peters
burg trying to negotiate Russo-Japanese
pact Hayashi's work was completed first,
whereupon Prince Ito's was necessarily aban-
doned It is incidentally said that Prince Ito
never forgave Hayashi for carrying off the
palm.
The story is illnminatiye of a diplomatic
opportunism which perhaps is not confined to
Japan. The point, however, is that Japan s
relations with Great Britain may depend on the
advantage of the hour. And now that the
Chinese questions are pressing the statesmen
of both governments, Japan's growing irrita-
ton at the prospect of being baked by Great
Britain is finding expression in the Japanese
newspapers.
Thus the Toxic y amato recently said:
AS thesJapansss government replied to the Entente
powers that Japa cannot join in the plan to include
China IN the Emf snte group. what disappointment it
piuSt the bFlllbn government or at least
to Sir John lord British minister, DIR. Morrison,
political admser China, President Yuan, Mr. LANG
Shiyi ana Others because their plan frustrated2
The British COVE nnlent declared that it will not take
any political act min China without first consulting
Japan But how much trust this pledge?
Lack OF faith In BRITISH diplomacy was notorious
Throughout history Look at the policy of Mr. Glad
stone IN dealing with the Armenian massacre. Sir
Edward Grey is a unique of justice. That is
the only trust repose In British diplomacy.
But behavior Of 5 II John Jordan is different When
Mr. Obata called Mr.. Lou Chinese foreign min
lister. to give warning against the monarchy plan,
Sir John Joined Yet within few days after.
ward Sir John sec etly conferred with President Yuan
and Mr.. Ling Sh vi in order to include China In
the Entente gr0u The Yuan government proposed
its own condition namely that the Entente powers
shall agree to lrnish cash as expenses for the
monarchy plan This fact can never be erased But
the Japanese gov decidedly refused to join
In that scheme tn sreby preserving dignity in Of
fering that Warri against the monarchy plan Pres
ident Yuan nistakably antiJapanese In his SEN
timent He was looking for some plan to relegate
Japan to the back ground and to satisfy his ambitions
to become an EN- )eror
Japan's irritation is probably the foreview
of a clash in commercial interests with Great
Britain, both having large Investments in China
and both wishing to work still deeper into the
tremendous potential trade of the nation. 1t
seems strange to find in the press of Japan, a
nation openly at war with Germany, repeated
and significant hints that an alliance with the
Germans might be profitable, and yet there are
stranger things in Oriental diplomacy than
playing enemy against ally for the sake of a
great commercial prize hereafter.