Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-03
FROM THE ORIENTAL PRESS HERE AND ELSEWHERE

The country is not only rent BY fac
/ tional feuds hut is hopeIessly divided
between the north and south. Sup
pose that Japan supported the north
represented at present by the Ii Yuer
Hung government at Picking; shuulc
she he obliged to back up the nortf
even by the force of arms If the soutf
should continue to be refractory and
threaten to overthrow the government
/ at Picking? Such a course would not
Eenly antagonize the south. which is
by far the best customer of Japanese
goods. but might cre3te a dangerous
situation. the outcome of which no one
could foretell. On the other hand. il
Japan should cast her lot with the
south, which is impossible under the
existing circumstances, the north is
bound to assume a hostile attitude to-
wards her Unless Japan is prepared
to follow a policy of intervention, I'M
less she is convinced that such pol
icy will not invite interference on the
part of outside powers, she will of ne
cessity hesitate to decide upon any
clear-cut policy in China. 1t is re-
ported that the Japanese government
is ready to support the present adj
ministration at Picking This is a
wise course and may prove successful
if President Ii Yuen Hung proves
himself capable of uniting the north
and the south under his standard But
the question is how far Japan is ready
TO support him in case the south per-
sists in its refractory attitude to-
wards the north, which is more than
likely. This is the question to which
no Japanese statesman has as yet
given a clear answer
At the same time Japan has been
keenly alive to the eventualities that
may develop from China's precarious
condition. Especially has she been
apprehensive of the ominous state OF
China's foreign relations What Won
der that she has been striving to
strengthen her hold upon China, thus
hoping to yitalize and enforce the
doubt DESTROYS of procIaiming for
China?
TO understand Japan's recent atti-
tnde towards China, it is essential to
view it in the perspective of history.
In 1841 England took Hongkong In
1860 Russia swindled China out of the
vast maritime territory lying north Of
the Amour river In the same year
the allied forces of France and Eng
land pillaged Picking and laid the sum-
mer palace in ashes. In 1874 France
wrested AMMAN from China, and in
1885 Honquin was also taken by the
lY11n In,
Macao out of China. In 1897 Germany
seized Kiaehow This was followed
by the Russian occupation of Port
Arthur. the British lease of Wei-hai.
wei, the French lease of Kwaneho |
bay and the British lease of KowIoon
peninsula. Even Italy demanded. in
1899, the lease of Sammun bay. The |
European encroachment upon China |
still continues Russia. taking ad. |
vantage of China's chaotic state in I
1911 established virtual suzerainty /
sver Mongolia England frightened |
her hold upon Tibet Today the Rus
Sian sphere of influence in China mea-
sures 1,S21.000 square miles, and that /
IF England 10000 square miles. In
he south France claims Yunnan, 1885, /
100 square miles, as her sphere.
1t is this portentous condition which I
mpels Japan to strengthen her posi- |
ion in China In the light or the dis I
lstrous war into which Europe was
suddenly plunged two years ago, who
IAN deny Japans wisdom in adopting |
such policy?
We know there is a wide difference /
aetween Japan's Monroe Doctrine and |
hat of the United States. This is in,
Had the United States been |
IS small and potentially weak as ia /
an. and had Mexico, like China, been 7
ctually divided into various spheres
{ influence among European powers. I
er policy in this hemisphere or i'm
Iuenee would have been the same as
hat which Japan has been following
i China. Unless one places oneself I
4 Japan's position. unless one under
lands everything Of Europe's actiEi,
les in China, one will never under
taud Japan's policy in China Had Ja:1
an been strong enough to declare a
[onroe Doctrine before Europe's
cramble for China had begun her
curse of action would have beer. en-
rnlu dffforouf -NIIebi Poi