THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.—AN AUSTRALIAN'S VIEW.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") STRi—Permit me to state from the onset that I hold no brief for Japan, but if this country desires to cut its own throat, then let it by all means go for the breaking of the Anglo- Japanese Alliance. As long as that Alliance remains in force we have absolutely nothing to fear in the Pacific. We lose nothing by the maintenance of the Alliance, but by the break- ing of it we stand to lose everything. Both Great Britain and Japan desire, and I write with knowledge, the maintenance of the Alliance. There is only a small narrow-minded section, without breadth of vision, in this country who desire the revoking of it. Let me remind your readers that it is one thing to make patriotic speeches : it is quite another thing to take your place in the front-line trench. We want a little m,ore of the doer, and it is the man who does things who is always willint and ready to look at the other man's side of the question and give him a square deal, no matter what his colour or creed may be. Japan has her rights in the Pacific the same as ourselves, and it is up to every decent man who has the future welfare of his country at heart and the peace of the world in view to see that we live together in the Pacific, East and West, in harmony.
As far as America is concerned, well, personally, I have no time for her. We know with her 105 millions of mixed inhabi- tants she is not What one would call a united nation. We have seen how long she took to come into the last war, and we have no guarantee that she would not take as long to come into the next. I have worked as an officer in the Imperial Navy, and alongside the Japanese and American warships, and man for man and ship for ship I would place my money (if I had any) every time on the Japanese Fleet. We have heard a lot lately in the newspapers of this great American Navy. It is not, however, merely ships that make a navy, nor even weight of metal, but personnel, efficiency, and discipline. That is the final trinity that counts. But I will not talk of that, but merely of the justice of the whole thing. We have endeavoured to rob Japan (an ally) of her just rights in the former German pos- sessions south of the equator, and, fortunately for the future peace of the Pacific, we have failed. Here in Australia we are apt to be warped, narrow-minded, and visionary, ,and as a young country to think that everything we do must necessarily be right, and that the other man must give way to us. We have not the strength of character to give in order to gain and to think that others have rights as well as ourselves. If we had only one man in Australia with a Rhodes's vision all would go well; but I am afraid we have not.
Break your Anglo-Japanese Alliance and what does it mean? I will tell you. An alliance in the near future—German-Russo- Japanese. Let us not deceive ourselves that either Germany or Russia is dead. Look at your map and see what that means. We are doing our best at the present moment to force Germany towards Russia, and if we break our alliance with Japan we will force Japan, entirely against her will, into an alliance with Russia. If Australia and her politicians will play the game we have nothing to fear from the East and a renewal of the Alliance. If, on the other hand, Australia—be she Church or State—goes on the principle of David Harum, "Do others, or they will do you—and do 'em first," then there is trouble ahead. I have already taken up too much of your space; but let those who want to break the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (and there are some foolish and short-sighted enough to desire to do so), let those stand up and take their place in the front line. We have had enough of it. Of all the countries in the world that should not desire to break the Alliance, the one country should be Australia. East and West have to work in harmony in the Pacific—not with swords drawn. Australia is looking for a straight man. It does not matter if he be Nationalist or Labour : one who will place his country and square dealing towards others first. Are we to look in vain? "The country that thinks merely nationally, without thinking internationally as well, is bound to meet with disaster."
A few months ago I met a Japanese gentleman, who used these words: "It is a great pity, sir, that the Christian nations do not talk a little less about Christianity and act a little more of it." With the remarks of that Japanese gentle- man I am quite in accord. As an old public school and university man, I ask that we play square. So far we have not been doing so either in our politics or our dealings with hPan. Throughout the whole East England's word is England's honour. In every bazaar in the East, not merely in Japan, but in China Malay Peninsula, India, word will go round that England is not true to her friends, and England's prestige will go down. Is England's honour to count for nothing? For that is what it will mean if we break faith with Japan. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance stands for the bringing together of East and West, for that understanding that is so necessary for all of us if peace is to be maintained. The revoking of it must mean disaster in the future. Speaking as one who has been through war, who has stood by the old Mother Country more than once, and who knows his East, have we no right to be heard? The East never forgets a kindness done towards her., nor does she forget justice; and the East never forgets nor forgives an injustice, and as an injustice and a breaking of faith with a friend, so would the revoking of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance read in the East. Play the game! Play it up to the hilt, but play it square. Nemo sibi rivat.—I am. Sir, &c., Malvern, Melbourne, Zarch 26th. R. W. HORNARROOH.
[Mr. Hughes, the Commonwealth Prime Minister, has de- clared himself in favour of maintaining the Anglo-Japanese Allianoe.—ED. Spectator.]
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