Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

her own safety permit any other nation
to absorb Korea, or to use Korea as a
vantage point from which to attack the
Japanese empire
But even If Japan does not nominally
own Korea, MIR. Takahira, will she not
eventually control it by her predominance
of trade and her ownership of the rail-
roads, much as England controls Egypt!
II think not replied the japanese min
lister. Japan has not sought exclusive
privileges of any kind whatever in Korea
She does not seek the exclusive ownership
of the railroads. The arrangements under
which the Fusan railroad is being built
have been published, and they show that
Korean rights are guarded in the minutest
particulars The arrangements are, may
say, far different from those under Wmcn
the Eastern Siberian railway has been
constructed AS to other concessions, one
of the most valuable in Korea, the gold
mines in the northern part of the empire Is
owned by an American syndicate, ana
there is no rea son why American ana Eu-
ropean enterprises shall not have their full
share in the future development of Korean
resources. Japan has most certainly no
desire to prevent such participation in the
benefits which must follow the development
of Korea"
Russia in the Far East.
What In your opinion, Mr.. Takahira,
does Russia want in the far east?"
THAT is a subject concerning which 1
must naturally speak with reserve re-
piled the minister from Japan. 1--WE have
shown what we thought of Russia's de-
signs In the east by our present action.
Whether those designs were the result of a
fixed policy the intrigues of a faction,
as has been publicly stated, Is not for me
to say 1t is sufficient to remember that
Russia's actions before the war plainly in
dicated the intention of permanently &C.
cupying Manchuria and of finally absorbing
Korea. We have to deal with facts not
theories, and after endeavoring to obtain
Russa's adhesion to proposals, which /
think We're very properly termed moderate
and unselfsh, and having failed to obtain
the assent of the Russian government to
those proposals or to any other proposals
likely to establish firm and enduring
peace in the extreme east. nothing remain
ed but to offer forcible opposition to the
completion of plans which not only threat
ened Japan's commercial and industrial in
terests In China and Korea, but even her
national safety"
Japan's War Funds.
But can Japan raise the money to carry
on war like this?" 1 asked
THUS far she has had no difficulty re-
piled the Japanese minister THE domes-
tic loans were subscribed for at home five
times over, and the careful estimates of
our financial experts indicate that there
will be difficulty in our raising funds
enough to carry on the war for 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
people?'
ut will undoubtedly impose heavy bur-
dens upon u.s. replied Minister Takahira,
but 1 do not think it possibly impov-
erish the nation. 1t is war of self-de-
fence not of aggression; and while the
penditures will no doubt be enormous am
sure there will be no extravaganza or reck-
lessness. / believe that Japan will display
great recuperative power and that after
the war is over her position will be much
better financially than 1t has been in the
past. Her opportunities for the unobstruct-
ed development of her commerce and indus
try will thereby be greatly increased. At
all events 1t Is evident that Japan would
certainly become impoverished if Manchu-
ria and Korea were occupied by Russia. In
that case she would be excluded from the
fields where her industries and commerce
should otherwise have the best chance for
peaceful development, and she would have
to maintain state of national defense,
which in time could not fail to be fatal
drain upon her national resources"
Japan's War With China.
what was the effect of the Chinese-Jap
anese war upon your Industrial and finan-
cial condition."
1.-The Chinese Japanese war was followed
by a period of over-expansion, and that in
turn by a period of depression. Baron
Shibusawa, one of our most noted finan-
ciers, states that in every country there
are waves of prosperity followed by waves
of depression so in the economic history CT
Js pan since the restoration there have been
five six such waves. He adds, however
that such changes do not necessarily injure
the real financial 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 coal, copper and silver. We are
rich in our water supply and water power
which may be used in the cheapening of
the cost of production. Coal Oil has been
found in several parts of the empire, and
this will doubtless take the place of coal to
a large extent. In Yeso there are coal and
silver mines and oil fields, while Formosa is
ION the WHOLE" concluded the japanese
minister Il think our outlook for COM
mercial and Industrial expansion is bright.
We are not rich as compared with the
to a great extent undeveloped. Our prog
ress along modern lines is matter of COM
raratvely recent date, but within that time
the country has made marvellous strides"
what is the size and population of
JapanT / asked
1.-THE empire contains about 16l, 900 square |
miles. 1t is about four times as large as
your state of Ohio. Its population, as |
shown by the census of 1900. was 47.600. |
OOO"
Not Fight for Territory.
.'That is more than half as many people |
ss we have in the United States,' said l.
us not Japan overcrowded, and is this war I
not after all fight for territory?"
ION Japan's part most certainly not" re |
piled Minister Takabira. 1--WE have distinct |
ly declared that we are not contending for |
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. and even If we |
10 bat UadRa there Is /
no necessity for us to acquire territory for /
our surplus population, for we have album
dant outlets for that as it is.
Japan is and Is not overorowded, con-