estimate of Japanese statesmen of the part their country is to play in world politics may be seen from the utterance of Count Okuma, former prime minister, anticipating the revision of the treaties and the triumph over China,—"We should become one of the chief powers of the world, and no power could engage in any movement [in Asia] without first consulting us." Such language hardly appears exaggerated, in view of the late treaty of alliance between Great Britain and Japan.[1]
The power most greatly feared by China and Japan, and the one whose vast territorial possessions in Asia entitle it to the first consideration in the affairs of that continent, is Russia. Its system of government is the antipodes of that of the United States and its repression of missions is out of harmony with the hopes of a large majority of the American people, but in their political relations the two governments have always maintained a cordial friendship, and if the principle of the "open door" is respected, there does not appear to be any reason why in Asiatic affairs they should not so continue.
The other great power in the Pacific whose policy is of concern to the United States is Great Britain. There has been occasion in these pages to animadvert upon the conduct of its government, but it is due to it to say that, however dictatorial and aggressive has been its course towards the Eastern countries, it has reserved to itself no selfish or exclusive privileges, but
- ↑ The Commercial Future of Japan, by Marquis Ito, N. Y. Independent, February 20, 1902; Norman's Far East, 392.
