The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-06-22
HOW JAPS WILLS SPEND IT
Japan Will Pay the Greater Part of the Russian Indemnity
to Her Own People and Will at Once Have Big In
dustrial Boom-But the Army and Navy Will Be Kept
in Tip-Top Shape Just Object Lesson to France
and Germany-Japan's Territorial Expansion.

Vladvostok will become the southern
terminal of the Russian seacoast, and
the Amur river will be the Russian
boundary on the south. In place Of
Russian domination in Chinese af-
fairs Japan will be substituted
1t is idle to imagine, however, that
considerable part of the Russian
indemnity will not be used to rein
force Japan's positiono as a new
world power. The navy, which now
ranks about fourth among the ma"
tions Of the world, will be maintained
and steadily increased, and the army
will be put on a strong permanent
basis. While Japan no longer has
anything to fear from Russia, there
may be complications with Germany
or France, the allies of Russia, and
in plans for the future it will be the
armies and navics of these nations
which Japan will have to conosider.
This question of the use to which
an enormous war indemnity might be
put by Japan. is likely to play an i'm
portant part in the behind the scenes
happenings of the peace negotiations.
With the spectacle before them of
Japan devoting the entire Chinese in
demnity to military purposes. the
European powers will be loath to see
a similar club handed to the Jap by
Russia.
Japan's credit today In the money
markets of the world is of the very
best. There is practically no limit
to the money Japan could not borrow
at a small rate ofo interest. Any war
indemnity will be like ready money
like a gamblers velvet" The
christian nations" of Europe are
likely to manifest some little timidity
in the face of this sudden rise of
the Malay.
IL the indemnity millions go into
the channels of trade Japan Is book
ed for huge Industrial boom. Prob
ably the boom will take place any
way.
There Is every reason to anticipate
that Japan will enjoy a period of in
dustrial activity exceeding that which
followed the Chinese war. The for
eign trade of Japan increased at that
period from $265.000.000 in 1895 to
$i40, 100000 in 1899. an increase over
the previous 10 years Of 62S per cent.
Tho clearings of the two principal
| banks in Japan for one year in 1899
| amounted to over $1,000, 100000.
But the chief benefit to be derived
industrially by Japan. will be in the
opportunity opened to expand. The
| island of Hondo or "Nippin" has an
area of about $1,000 square miles,
which Is equivalent to the state of
Kansas. Into this small area are
crowded 33.327 900 people, or an aver
age 3sl inhabitants to each square
mile. Practically similar conditions
prevail on the neighboring islands
pire. A large percentage of the land
is made up of volcanoes. active and
| otherwise.
The way Is now open into Korea
and Manchuria. The work of coll
onizing and developing the resources
| of Manchuria, which was begun by
| Russia. will be pushed by Japan. II
| is predicted that a considerable part
of the Japanese army will be garrf-
| soned In this country. and after rid
| ding II of lawless Chinese brigands,
1t will be formally opened for settle
| ment to the Japanese.
Korea, the hermit kingdom" will
| cease to be the victim of conflicting
| political influences. and will be gov
| erned and exploited by Japan. For
| eign capital will be attracted. and the
! foreign trade which already has de-
veloped to considerable proportions
! will be increased, These are the spoils
OF war to be reaped by Japan.