Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-30

East and the second Russo-Japanese
war died a complete and permanent
death with the fall Of autocracy-it.
| indeed, it did not die on the Bird or
July, 1916, when the Russo-Japanese
alliance was signed.
Moreover, Japan's attack on Sibe'
ria would not advance the cause OF
her Allies. II Russia were actually to
join Germany and take up arms
against her former Allies in Europe,
Japan could not stop her from carry
ing her plan out by invading Siberia.
Japan could not march through Sibe'
ria and attack Moscow. The utmost
she would be able to do would be to
take the maritime province east OF
the Amur river; and there would be
the end of her military activity. That
in no wise would affect the war front
in Europe. For under such Circum-
stances, neither Russia nor the
Teutonic Allies would think it wise to
divert enough force from the Euro
pean fronts to the Far East to in
fluence their European operations.
But would not the Pacific provinces
of Russia be a tempting prize for
Japan to seize-especially when the
other members of the Entente Allies
would urge her to do SO? No eager
and ready yes" to the above ques'
ton will be forthcoming from Japan.
For such a war is a war of conquest,
pure and simple. 1t means also the
creation of a second Russo-Japanese
war-which is happily and effectively
dead now. Another, and a rather
pertinent, query is whether Japan is
financially and economically able to
carry out a scheme of conquest of
Japan would be bitterly opposed to
it, including such men as Baron Ia.
kahashi, Prof. Tsumura and all the
rest who oppose what is called the
continental policy" of Japan.
Besides, the maritime province is
not such a glittering prize as is gen.
orally supposed. There is a mistaken
idea that the Primorsk is a prom,
Used land of flowing honey and milk
that it is a vast agricultural won.
derland. Nothing is further from the
actual truth.
Attitude Of the United States
And then there is the United
States. When Japan drove the Ger
mans out of Kiaochao American pub.
lie opinion was not slow to point the
finger of condemnation at Japan. The
American press was filled with the
picture OF japan driving the first
wedge in her unholy scheme of the
conquest of China. The occupation
of the maritime province of Siberia |
would look in the eyes of the United |
States like the birth of another Ger.
many in the Far East. And Japan
sinister in American eyes than the |
Germany in Europe because Japan is |
nearer to the United States and be, |
cause she is yellow" power. And |
Japan would not like that at ALL That !
is about the last thing that Japan !
would like to see of all the black per. |
turbations of international politics. |
For, after all, it is the attitude of the |
United States which fences out Japan |
from the Asian continent, as well as |
from the Americans on this side Of |
the Pacific, certainly infinitely more |
than Russia does.
Then, too, Japan has learned good |
lesson with Korea-a lesson she is
not likely to forget soon-namely, it
is neither pleasant nor profitable to
make your neighbours country a part
of your own. This is utterly contrary
to what some of the American papers
say about the sinister design of Japan
on China; but never mind them, it
is true. When she can have all the
wealth producing advantages in Man
churia and in the maritime province
Of Siberia without the annoyance and