New-York tribune., 1922-03-19

Japanese penetration on the Pacific
slope, It seems that the United States
and Australia might we'll do litsie
getting together" in The direction Of
improving their al present somer-hal
distant acquaintance.
Australia Ceases To Be
Remote Corner Of Globe
Almost over night, as IL we're, 5ae
Commonwealth Of Australia has ceased
to be q remote and little regarded cor
ner OF the globe ard mas sprung into
. leading position in world politics,
Lord Norshclife'a worst enemies never
have accused him of not having c nose
for news, and when he got the cables
busy with full length report OF his
speech last fall, in which re declared
that "the world will not tolerate an
empty and idle Australia" he was
planting himself squarely il the cente-
% considerable news story.
He took the stage little ii advance
Of Lloyd George. It was through the
medium of Premier Hughes Of Aus
tralia that the British Premier first
announced that the British delegation
TO tho Washington conference would
consist OF six members, of whom three
would represent the donlinions. OF the
three dominion spokesmen 81 Washing
ton easily the most important wss
Senator Pearca, OF Australia.
Australia's representative mes across
tho conference table at Washington the
spokesmen OF Japan, which remained
IN ally OF the British Empire precisely
because Australia had protested against
the termination OF the Anglo-Japanes :
treaty OF alliance.
Why did Australia so protest? Nce,
certainly, out of pure affection sor the
beaux yeux OF Japan. II was because
Australia felt the existence Of The
treaty TO be, in the event Of an .Aneri-
can-Japanese war, some sort Of safe
guard that Japan would not "jumpn the
vacant spaces of the commonwealth
And the Australian representative very
certainly went TO Washington prepared
TO maintain against all comers tha
doctrine OF "White Australia" which
whatever the consequences, is the cen
tral creed Of Australian policy. e%-
ternal and internal.
The Pacific pact, in which the Anglo
Japanese alliance has now been merged
has altered the circumstances Of Aus
tralian policy, but not its fundsmen-
tails. There were rumors last year that
considerable part OF the strength
the British fleet would in future 5t
based IN Australian waters. Whether
the dispositions which were then ;r
prospect will be affected, or to what ex
tent, by the conclusion OF the Pacific
pact remains TO be seen, but it is to b,
noted that the commonwealth and its
territories, as we'll as New Zealand. are
specifically excluded from the regiol.s
wherein, under the pact, the status quo
IN regard TO forliications and naval
bases is to be maintained.
Inc commonwealth Is haunted by the
menace which its vacant spaces pre-
sent. 1t is country nearly as large
as the United States, but with pres
ent population OF only some five mill
lions 1t is incapable OF expanding by
natural increase its population to fig
ure more nearly commensurate with its
area for many years to come. II is in
capable of absorbing white immigrants
IN very large numbers under existing
conditions, due to the relatively unde-
yeloped state Of the country Il breads
especially an influx Of Asiatics which
would pull down It's Nigh standards of
life.