Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-07
JAPAN GETS REVENGE
IN FIGHTING GERMANY
Participation in War on Side Of En-
tente Pays for Loss Of Liaotung
Peninsula, Viscount Kato Says.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
TOXIC, June 6.-By her participa lion
in the war on the side of the entente,
Japan has avenged herself upon Ger
many for wrestling Japan's rightful
trophy-the Liaotung peninsula-from
her after the Japan-China war. in the
opinion of Viscount Takaaki Kato ex-
pressed 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
Japanese war a decade after, but un-
lawfully occupied corner of. Shantung
province on trifiing pretext- Thus the
European war afforded a golden oppor-
tunity to Japan for avenging her long
ha-bo-ed enn!ty and wrath toward
Germany.
Besides. this removal Of the German
influence from, the east, where Germany
had menaced Japans 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 gradu-
ally disappeared.
Viscount Kato does not agree with
those thinkers who deem the Anglo
Japanese alliance valueless because
British in China are constantly com
batting Japans interests there and be-
cause Russia, against whose ambitions
the agreement was concluded, is now
no longer menace. He SAYS:
~ nc Dit
to combat Japan's interests in that
country cannot be denied However,
any action or utterance of those Brit
ish people in China, who are in nowise
ton, must not be seriously taken as
mirroring the sentiments of the British
empire. and what we have to take into
consideration is what opinion the Brit
lsh government and enlightened British
people in England entertain toward the
alliance"
AS for Russia. the ex-minister says 1t
should be remembered that the present
equilibrium in the far east is a result
OF the alliance with England and if the
alliance were Cancelled some effective
substitute would have to be found to
insure the equilibrium.
To japan the alliance will ALWAYS
prove a great benefit, the statesman
thinks. For one thing. he declares, ia
pan will be able to dispense with any
further extension of her naval strength.
which otherwise would have to be ex-
banded to an extent beyond the finan-
cial capacity of the empire. Viewed
from this standpoint only the main
tenance Of the alliance is of vital i'm
portance. and it is a great mistake to
| think that the growth Of friendly rela-
| lions with Russia has removed the
! necessity of it's continuance
He adds: Japan should strive To
further her position among the world
nations by respecting and adherine To
the spirit and principle of the Anglo
Japanese alliance and the Russo-Japa-
nese conventions"
Viscount Kato declares that GERMANY
is destined to meet utter defeat
eventually, but thinks the war vii
! last some time WI