Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-28
THE JAPAN OF TODAY
Keiiiro Nabeshima Writes of Changes
Which Have Occurred.
TIE EVOLUTION OF an EMPIRE
Some of the Criticisms of New
Word Power Answered.
RECENT TREATY DISCUSSED

Keijiro Nabeshima. charge daffaires of
the japanese legation to the United States,
in an article the Japan Of the present.
says in part: zone may often hear
the American European traveller
say, You should go to Japan as quickly as
possible: everything is changing and very
soon the Japan you have read about and
admired will be q thing of the past No
doubt this is true in a measure. The halo
of romance, IL / may call it that, which
made Japan an object of interest to the
rest of the world is disappearing, and the
hard realities of everyday life taking
its pace AS much from necessity as from
choice. the nation is striving to become like
Other nations in a world where cotton goods
rank higher than brocades and repeating
rifles a surer safeguard than the samu-
RATS sword. Perhaps this is to be regretted
from the esthetic standpoint No doubt
some Of my countrymen do regret 1t, but
in their case regret Is tempered by the
thought that though much that was valued
in the past has been put aside, the sacrifice
was inevitable and for the best. 1t was
your great President, Lincoln. who once
said, This nation cannot endure half slave
and half free The Japan of Perry's time,
emerging from the seclusion of centuries,
entered upon the strenuous struggle Of her
life under the shadow Of a peril not
unlike that which overcast the future of
the American people at the time when Lin
coin spoke. IL Is source of justifiable
pride to every Japanese that his country
has never felt the weight of foreign domina-
ton. But in the period Immediately follow
ing the conclusion Of Perrys treaty that
danger was by no means remote.
Bound by the conventions and traditions
of an ancient feudal system. Japan stepped.
as il were. in day from the twilight of
No " Os nj he hri q nv
glare Of the nineteenth century. and stand
Ing. for brief space. dazzled and bewil
dered by the novel experience she doubtless
Offered tempting opportunities to foreign
aggression. Happily those who guided her
footsteps in the early days of foreign inter
course Were not the last to appreciate the
full significance of the situation. They real
lied that Japan could not long endure
INDEPENDENT nation If she remained
s ave to the traditions of the past while
confronted by the responsibilities and dam
gers OF the present
Causes of the Change.
"Hence began that period Of transition
which has transformed the japan OF Perry's
time into the Japan Of today.
1.-The result may detract somewhat from
the picturesque qualities which the world
az large Is apt to attribute to the country
and its people. but believe I speak within
bounds when l say that 1t cannot lessen
progress must take in the story of what
Japan has done and is endeavOrinR to do
TO show herself worthy Of the position she
has attained among nations. This is
theme upon which l naturally speak with
some diiiidence: for in writing about ones
own country IL Is difficult to avoid the ap-
pearance of boastfulness on the one hand.
or Of mock modesty the other. one
thing. however, 1 can assert with perfect
confidence. and that is that no Intelligent
japanese deprecates the spread of accurate
knowledge concerning social. political and
economic conditions in his country.
in 1878 the United States concluded
treaty with Japan which recognized the
justice of her demands for release from
the conventional restrictions imposed upon
her right to levy and collect customs dues.
In the conference for the revision Of the
treaties. held at Toxic In 1882 between rep
resentatives of Japan and the treaty
powers. the United States cordially sec
ouded the efforts Of Japan to obtain
change in existing treaty relations. The
same true of the conference OF 1884.
In 1873 the two governments concluded an
extradition treaty einbodying the recogni-
ton Of a principle vitality affecting Japan's
jurisdctional rights which no other power
up to that time had acknowledged. In the
subsequent negotiations. eliminating in
the treaty signed at Washington in 1894
and made operative in 1859. the govern
ment of the United States displayed the
same appreciation Of Japan's efforts To
tablish her treaties on the basis usual
among Independent and self-respecting
tons. Any one who chooses to call this
q mistake Is. OF course, entitled to his opin-
ton but the opinion is one in direct OPPOSE
ton 10 the traditions of American policy
IN Japan from Townsend Harris time to
the present day. And l may add that 1t
IS at variance. also. with the policy now
adopted by European nations. Japan's
treaties were the natural and unavoidable
result Of causes to which shall refer more
at length later on But II may be said here
that If they We're a mistake. then all that
the japanese nation has done or attempted
to do to improve Its condition in accord
ance with western standards has also been
q mstake.
No Cause for Complaint.
Speaking from personal knowledge and
observation. i can safely assert that since
the new treaties went into operation there
has been just cause for complaint or
cavil The administration of justice has
proceeded IN orderly manner. trade and
commerce have prospered. and life and
property have been secure, 1t La not meant