20 JULY 1918, Page 16

The June number of the New East, edited in Tokio

by Mr. J. W. Robertson-Scott, gives prominence to the new Japanese Foreign Minister's message to Mr. Balfour, assuring him of Japan's " un- swerving determination " to stand by the British and Japanese Alliance. It is apparent, however, from another article that Japanese opinion is much divided on the question whether Japan should play a larger part in the war on land. Mr. David Fraser's monthly letter from Peking, dated May 8th, gives a doleful picture of China as a prey to civil war and brigandage.