[Editor: This is a chapter from the novel The Coloured Conquest (1904) by “Rata” (Thomas Richard Roydhouse).]
Chapter VIII.
How the Japanese and Chinese played a game, and arranged for naval demonstrations before the deluded peoples of the Continental Countries.
Suddenly, there was a cessation of disturbing cables from the East, and instead came reports that there was a rift in the lute of friendly relations between China and Japan.
All who had sneered at my warnings were highly elated.
“A combination of Easterners going to mop up Australia, eh?” wrote a flippant journalist. “That is what the crows have been cawing. Now we have word from the East that China and Japan may fight their old battles over again, and with a result that may be somewhat different.
“China has indeed been ‘awakened,’ as the gloomy crew who have been worrying Australia with their prophesies, foresaw. Let that much be conceded. It is also true that Japan did the awakening.
“Now that she is awakened and armed — her Navy is as powerful, take it in the lump, as that of Japan — China resents Japan’s masterful air. She also objects to the Japanese getting so much of her commerce, not to mention the territorial troubles between them. Altogether, a very pretty quarrel is proceeding, at which the Australian may chuckle to his heart’s content.
“When China and Japan have fairly got at each other’s throats, when their Navies are smashing each other into scrap-iron, he will be able to laugh all the more!
“The death warrant of White Australia has not yet been signed.”
* * *
After a time, the cable daily brought particulars of the estrangement between China and Japan, and eventual hostilities were freely predicted.
The Japanese and Chinese papers to hand by every mail contained details of the disputes between the countries, and interviews with prominent persons were published.
It was made clear that France was at the back of China, and that Germany supported Japan.
Russia was not figuring in the matter, but it was believed that Great Britain and America approved the position taken up by China.
France and Germany were each claiming a great deal of credit for diplomatic astuteness in connection with the disagreement. Yet, I know that both were the tools of the cunning Easterners.
I knew that the quarrel was a sham, intended to delude the foolish White nations, And they were deluded. I wrote on the subject in the Press, and addressed public meetings on it.
Of course, I was not believed.
Even my intimate friends, who were aware that I regularly received private letters from a Japanese naval officer who was free with his confidences, would not credit the statement that France and Germany were being played with by Japan and China.
Told that it was all part of a great game, and reminded of the Oriental’s turn for trickery of an elaborate character, they answered that it was “too absurd for anything” to suppose that such finished diplomatists as those of France and Germany could be taken in by a scheme put up by “those Yellow and Brown beggars.”
“Besides, look at the interviews with Japanese and Chinese statesmen,” the critics would say. “Observe the emphasis — the bitterness in fact — of their remarks concerning each other. Will you say that is assumed?”
With Lieutenant Taksuma Moto’s latest letter in my breast pocket I was prepared to make the assertion.
“And the Press — look at the Japanese and Chinese Press,” they would continue. “Why the papers are full of the trouble, and must be stirring up their respective peoples no end.”
“The intelligent people, under guidance of their district officers, will know how much to believe,” I said. “But I am not concerned about them. My trouble is in regard to the Whites. The day of their overwhelming is approaching, and now, more than ever, owing to the cunning of these Eastern peoples, they think it impossible. Truly, dust has been thrown in their eyes.”
“Take something for it, Danton,” laughed the friend I was particularly addressing. “Why you are in a constant state of nightmare in regard to Eastern developments. Australia’s good for a thousand years of White supremacy yet.”
And he went off highly amused.
* * *
I took Taksuma’s latest letter from my pocket, and re-read a portion. It ran:—
“I have always been frank with you, dear old chap. That’s why I have again told you all the Japanese secrets. But I know that I am quite safe in doing so, for no one will believe them.
“That is a case in which complete openness actually becomes a blind. The same tactics frequently come off in the American game of Poker.
“You may show my letter to whom you will — concealing my name, because I do not want our agents in Australia to cause me annoyance here in Tokio — and they will not be impressed. Nevertheless, you believe me; and naturally, as I desire the perfect success of my country’s plans, I do not want the others to do so.
“In a little time you will hear of this development: an immense Japanese fleet will visit German ports in honor of a great German ceremony long postponed.
“Germany is pleased to have this demonstration of power on the part of her friend, Japan — not her ally. Japan has not descended to that. She hopes to impress Europe generally, and France and England particularly.
“Almost simultaneously, the world will hear that, as a sort of counterblast to this parade of Japan’s power in European waters ‘jealous China’ — how we laugh at your Western journalists! — will send an even more powerful fleet to French ports. It will also be published that both fleets will join in the annual manoeuvres of their friends.
“It will not be published, however, that the ships of the Japanese and Chinese fleets will carry a full complement and a half of men for each ship. It will not be published that they will a little later seize the ships of their unsuspecting friends and man them.
“Nor will it be published that, having done that much, the smashing of the British and remaining Continental navies will be as simple as — what you say in Australia when you are on a good wicket — shelling peas.
“The only persons who’ll know our real game are the English Ministers. They are well informed — and always have been, as you know — about Eastern affairs; but they cannot convince their people — that is, not just at present — that their knowledge is correct; otherwise their navy would be double what it is.
“The Labour and Nationalist Parties are, between them, too strong for British naval development. All the British authorities can do is to keep the navy as it is, ever on the alert, and it will some day give us a daddy of a fight.
“There can be no escape from that, and for my part I do not want to escape it. I love a good fight, and the British navy can put up the best in the world. However, it can only end one way, ‘Banzai Japan!’ We’ll settle all the Irish and Labour troubles of the British for them.
“A squadron of Japanese ships and a squadron of Chinese ships will leave the East soon after the fleets visiting Europe have cleared.
“The squadrons will rendezvous at some spot in the Pacific. The use of the cable after it is entirely in the hands of the Japanese and Chinese will (we hope) draw certain British squadrons to a point where they may be destroyed — oh, of course, by superior force, old man. I know your susceptibilities.
“The British squadrons will fall into a trap. I am sorry, but it cannot be helped.
“Our squadrons will dispose of foreign ships on the China station before leaving those waters. We shall resort to stratagem in order to capture rather than sink, and, to prevent news travelling, will simultaneously get hold of the cables. This will all be dead easy, for one very good reason — we shall not publish notification of our intended attacks. And what delightful fairy stories we’ll send over the cables to England, America, and the Continent from ‘our own correspondents!’
“I shall be in that Pacific fight, and a little later shall see you in Australia.
“Good old Sydney! — eh? I long to once more put my foot on the landing place at Fort Macquarie, and renew my friendship with you and Miss Graham.
“I am sorry that you good people should have to suffer for our success; but it is the fortune of war. Fate is too strong to be evaded. However, I will try and make things easy for you and yours.
“Another word or two before closing this, as to the European scheme, as I may call it, of Japan and China.
“As the Marquis Ito pointed out at a secret conference, to go on as we were going was to force into existence a European combination against us. All-absorbing as are the jealousies of the Western nations (my distinguished relative pointed out), the circumstance of the enormous growth of maritime power of China and Japan would have compelled the attention of the Western peoples, and once they heard the note of self-preservation struck clearly it would dominate their existence. Now, however, they believe China and Japan are at daggers drawn, and their own private scheming is allowed full play.
“The pretended separation and unfriendliness towards each other of China and Japan keeps Western nations apart and unfriendly, and affords the opportunity to bring about the Coloured Conquest.
“Of course, no one on your side believes this; nevertheless, it — but no matter. You shall see what you shall see.
“By the way, your ancient enemy Major Yoko, now Director-General of wireless telegraphs, is in your neighbourhood — no, not in Australia, yet not far off. Take care he does not play any hanky-panky. He won’t have much chance when I am in Australia.”
* * *
I believed every word that Taksuma wrote.
I would have sworn to it.
His affection was too real to allow him to go out of his way to deceive me.
Yet there was not another soul in Australia who would have credited his version of what was going on in the East, or have done more than laugh at his forecast of happenings in European waters.
Nevertheless, I felt the certainty of everything.
The Japanese and Chinese were playing a deep game according to their Oriental instincts, and, as their opponents would never believe it, the Easterners were sure to win.
I handed Taksuma’s letter to the Press for publication — of course, withholding his name — and backed it up with strong remarks of my own.
Some of the papers commented upon it. They seemed to be all of one mind — viz., that (as the least important one impertinently stated it) “Mr. Danton’s Japanese correspondent appears to be enjoying the game known as leg-pulling.”
I was miserable enough.
The downfall of country and race was unavoidable.
And Yoko was preparing to clutch the girl whose life had become entwined with mine.
What could I do?
Source:
Rata, The Coloured Conquest, Sydney (NSW): N.S.W. Bookstall Co., 1904, pp. 61-69
Editor’s notes:
assume = to put on or feign an attitude, manner, or quality; a pretence; simulated; used in a deceptive manner (can also refer to: a supposition, to surmise, to accept or believe something without any factual basis or proof)
Banzai = a Japanese celebration; the word “Banzai” means “ten thousand years”, regarded as a way of wishing someone a long life — it was especially used to wish a long life for the Japanese Emperor, being a shortened version of the phrase “Tennōheika Banzai!” (i.e. “Long live His Majesty the Emperor”) and was used as a battle cry by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War (especially known for infantry “Banzai charges”, which were virtually suicide attacks), although the word is used in modern times by Japanese people as a patriotic cry or a joyous shout (e.g. “Banzai Japan!”, meaning “Long live Japan!”)
See: “Ten thousand years”, Wikipedia
the Continent = (in a British context or from a British viewpoint) the continent of Europe (i.e. excluding the British Isles)
Continental = (in a British context or from a British viewpoint) of or relating to continental Europe (i.e. excluding the British Isles)
daddy = any phrase beginning with “the daddy of a” or “the daddy of all” (or similar wording) refers to a large amount or something which is outstanding (e.g. “the daddy of all optimists” refers to someone who is extremely optimistic)
finished = perfected, polished; accomplished, consummate, expert, highly skilled; characterised as being of the best or highest quality (can also mean: completed, concluded, ended, finalised; stopped using something; defeated, dying, ruined, unable to continue)
hanky-panky = mischief; sexual activity (especially such activity which is regarded as improper, i.e. sexual mischief, illicit sexual activity; however, the term is also used as a fun or humorous way to refer to regular sexual activity); activity or behaviour which is regarded as dishonest, dodgy, morally dubious, questionable, shady, unacceptable, underhanded, or unethical (especially regarding financial or sexual behaviour)
leg-pulling = giving false information as a joke; engaging in an amusing, fun, or humorous deception, hoax, or practical joke; fibbing, joking, or teasing with jocular intent
Oriental = of or relating to Asia, especially East Asia; something which originates from Asia or is characteristic of Asia
paper = newspaper
Press = the print-based media, especially newspapers (can be spelt with or without a capital letter: Press, press)
rift in the lute = a small defect, error, flaw, or problem which can jeopardize, ruin, or negatively affect an entire entity, the end product, final result, or overall outcome (a “rift” is a crack in an object); disharmony; the phrase derives from the poem “Vivien”, by Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), which includes the text “It is the little rift within the lute, that by and by will make the music mute”
See: 1) Pascal Tréguer, “Meaning and origin of the phrase ‘rift in the lute’”, Word Histories, 9 January 2017
2) Alfred Tennyson, “Vivien”, in: Idylls of the King”, London: Edward Moxon & Co., 1859, pp. 101-146 (see p. 113)
3) “Idylls of the King”, Wikipedia
4) “Alfred, Lord Tennyson”, Wikipedia
sham = a pretence, a fraud, a fake, a deception; a hoax, a deceptive trick; a spurious imitation, a counterfeit object, something or someone which is falsely represented as the genuine article; bogus, false
Tokio = an archaic spelling of Tokyo (capital city of Japan)
turn = a natural inclination, disposition, or wont (e.g. “girls with a turn for delicate needlework”)
viz. = (Latin) an abbreviation of “videlicet” (a contraction of the Latin phrase “videre licet”), meaning “it is permitted to see” (the “z” derives from the z-shaped Latin shorthand symbol for “et”, as used in the Tironian shorthand style); in actual practice, “viz.” is used as a synonym for “in other words”, “namely”, “that is to say”, “to wit”, or “which is” (used when giving further details about something, or giving a list of specific examples or items)
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