The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-07
GOT REVENGE
AGAINST GERMANY
For Wrestling Japan's Rightful Trophy,
the Liaotung Peninsula, from Her
After the Japan China War.

/ Toxic, July Correspondence
her participation in the war on the side
of the entente, Japan has avenged her.
self upon Germany for wrestling Japan's
| rightful trophy-the Liatung peninsula
from her after the Japan-China war, in
the opinion of Viscount Takaaki kato,
expressed in an article on the war and
Japan's position in the world published
in the Central Review.
Germany as the ringleader and author
of the famous triple Intervention, he
writes, compelled Japan to give up her
rightful gain under the pretext of pre-
serving the peace of the Orient. and not
only sowed the seed of the Russo-Japa-
nese war decade after, but unlawfully
occupied a corner of Shantung province
on trifling pretext. Thus the European
war afforded a golden opportunity to
Japan for avenging, her long harbored
enmity and wrath towards Germany.
Besides, this removal of the German
influence from the east, where Germany
had menaced Japan's activity in China
and the growth of Sino-Japanese friend
ship with her fast increasing influence,
has proved a boundless benefit to Japan
as well as to China, the Viscount de-
clares. The apprehension entertained by
some thinkers, mostly cursed with Ger
manophobia, that should the war close
in favor of Germany, Japan would be
placed in grave situation, has gradual
ly disappeared.
Viscount Kato does not agree with
those thinkers who deem the Anglo
japanese alliance valueless because Brit
ish in China are constantly combating
Japan's interests there, and because Rus
sia, against whose ambitions the agree
ment was concluded, is now no longer
menace. He says:
"The tendency of the British in China
to combat Japan's interest in that coun-
try cannot be denied. However, any ac-
tion or uttersnee of those British people
in China, who are in nowise representa-
tive figures of the British nation, must
not be seriously taken as mirroring the
sentiment of the British empire, and
what we have to take into consideration |
is what opinion the British government
and enlightened British people in Eng |
land entertain towards the alliance"
As for Russia, the ex-minister says it |
should be remembered that the present I
equilibrium in the far east is result /
of the alliance with England, and if the +
alliance were cancelled some effective (
substitute would have to be found to in
sure the equilibrium.
To Japan the alliance will always
prove a great benefit. the statesman
thinks. For one thing, he declares, jap
an will be able TO dispense with any fur
ther extension of her naval strength,
which otherwise would have to be ex-
panded 70 an extent beyond the fnsn-
eial capacity of the empire. Viewed from
this standpoint only the maintenance OF
the alliance is OF vital Importance and
It is great mistake to think that the
growth Of friendly relations with Russia
has removed the necessity of its contin-
nance.
He adds: Japan should strive to fur
ther her position among the worlds ma
lions by respecting and sdhering to the
spirit and principle of the Anglo-Jspa-
lese alliance and the Russo-Japsnese
II
Viscount Ksto declares that Germany
5 destined to meet utter defeat eventual I
Y, but thinks the war will last some
line.