GERMANY AND JAPAN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Six,—In your article in the Spectator of November 30th, you refer to the German Government as if it had taken the initiative in isolated action among the civilised Govern- ments of the Western nations. The writer believes that such is not the case, as in May last, immediately before he left Japan, he was informed that America had made a separate treaty, in advance of Germany, and on the lines referred to in your article.
That some such treaty with America had been arranged, if not signed, was made pretty evident by the conduct of the Emperor (the Mikado) at the Empress's garden-party on April 24th last, at which the writer was present. On that occasion the Emperor, who barely returns the salutations of officials, and whose bearing is usually most markedly un- demonstrative and distant (as becomes one who claims lineal descent from the "Sun Goddess," and a monarch who rules by right of an actual unbroken succession of over twenty- five centuries), made a point of coming over to a small knot of American naval officers, and shaking hands with one of their number. The significance of this little episode
was fully appreciated by the representatives of the European communities domiciled in the Treaty Ports, who happened to be present. Later, too, the writer found the conviction general that the demands being urged for such a rearrangement of the treaties by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs (the Count Okuma, who has since been seriously wounded by a would-be assassin), were sure to be acceded to at no distant date ; and that they were reasonable and just. There was naturally, however, considerable irritation among the foreign community when it was found that America (not Germany) had stolen a march upon the rest of the Western nations, and had negotiated an indepen- dent treaty. That Germany has followed the example set by America, suggests that the day is now past for any nation, even as a matter of policy, to deny Japan the full rights accorded to civilised nations ; rights to which, indeed, she seems by her well-ordered government and internal administration most
justly entitled.—I am, Sir, &c., LASENBY LIBERTY. 13 Cornwall Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W., December 3rd.
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