The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-22

i
an American syndicate, and there Is no
.tcason why American, and EUROPEAN en-
tcrprlses shall not have their fun share
In the future development Of Korean re-
sources. japan has most certainly no
1cslrc to prevent suc1, participation ~
lie benefits which, must follow the deVei-
cpnicnt Of Korea.
Russia In the Far East.
What IN yo,,r opinion, Mr. Tnkahifa,
docs Russia want In Tho far lIast1 !,
'"rhat is n subject concerning when =
must naturally speak with reserve. re-
piled the minister from Japan. we nav
shown what we thought of Rubsia's de-
signs III the East BY otir present actio''.
Whether those designs we're the result OF
a fixed policy or the intrlsues o. q lac
ton as has been publicly stated. is ny.
for me to say IT is asuficient 70 IeInsn
Der that Russia's actions before lie war
plainly indicated the intention OF per
mancntly occupying Manch,itla ana Q.
finally absorbing Korea. we have TO deai
with facts, not theories, and AFTER en-
doavorng to obtain Russia's adhesion
to proposals. which 1 think we're very
properly termed moderate ana uhseliisr,
and having failed TO obtain the assent
OF the Russian government to those pro-
posals or to any other proposals likely
to establish a firm and enduring peace
In the extreme East, nothing remained
completion OF plans which not oriy
threatened Jspan's commercial and M
3dustrial interests In China ana Korea
but even her national safety"
But can Japan raise the money TO
carry on war like this7" asked
"'rhus far she has had no dHiculty,'
replied the Japanese minister. "'rhe do
mcstic loans were subscribed for az home
five times over, and tho careful estimates
of our financial eSperta indicate that
there will be no difficulty In our raising
funds enough to carry OF, the war Tor
some time to come. We have no foreign
debt OF any great amount, and so FAR We
have made no effort TO secure any large
sum of money from abroad
But Will not the war impoverish your
pcople?"
at will undoubtedly impose heavy bur
dens upon nt. replied Minister Takah'ra'
erish the nation. It Is war OF self-de-
Tense, not OF aggression. and while the OK
pendtures will not doubt be enormous |
am sure there viii be no extrayasance or
display great recupcrati tive power and that
after the war Is over her position will be
much better financially than it has been
h paed Of her
merce and Industry viii thereby be greatly
Increased. At all events 1t is evident that
Japan would certainly become impoYerlsh-
ed IL Manchuria and Korea were occupied
BY Russia. In that case she would be ex-
ciudcd from the fields where her Industries
and commerce H'houia o. herwise have the
best chance To- )>eacetui development, and
she would have to maintain state Of ma.
tional defense, which In time could not
fall to be fatal drain upon her national
resources.
Iapan's War With China.
what was the effect Of the Chinese;
Japanese War upon your industrial and
financial condition?"
ed by a period OF over-expansion. and
that In turn by period OF depression:
Baron Shihusawa. one OF our most noted
financiers. states that as In every country
waves OF depression. so in the economic
history OF japan since the restoration
there have been i've or SIX, such waves.
He adds. however. that such changes DO
condition OF the country. AS he states.
the resources Of Japan are varied and fair
in quantity We have an abundance Of
raw silk and tea and valuable mines OF
our water supply and water power. which
NAV be used In the cheapening OF the cost
OF production. Coal oil has been found IN
several parts OF the. empire. and this will
extent. In Yeso there are coal and silver
mines and oil fields, while Formosa is rich
In gold -
minister 81 think our outlook for com.
mercIal and industrial expansion is bright.
We are not rich. as compared with the
United States. but our resources are as
yet to a great extent undeveloped, Our
progress along modern lines is matter
OF Comparatively recent date, but within
that ti!ne the country has made marvel
Gus strides.
Japan?" ] asked
'The empire contains about $1,000
square miles. 1t is about four times as
large as your state OF Ohio. Its popula-
lion. as shown by the census Of 1900 was
Al. 10000"
Not a Fight for Territory,
"That is more than half as many people
as we have in the United States. sai "a
+. as not Japan overcrowded. and IS
this war not after all fight for terri
tory" -. oert,,n,v not ..
replied Minister Takahira. we nave