The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-12

for the abrogation or essential modi-
fication of treaty which had been
made for a definite term of years,
which had still five and half years of
that term to run, and which contained
no provision in itself for abrogation
at an earlier date. Doubtless the two
nations would be competent, by mu-
tual consent, to abrogate or to modify
it in any way at any time. But to do
so would be much more exceptional
proceeding that there now seems to
be need of. Especially out Of the COM
mon, if not inevitably offensive, would
it be to seek in such way and at
such time so to modify most fav-
ored nation" treaty as to deny to one
of the parties to 1t the most favored
nation" status. To change treaty in
the direction of closer relations is
welcome thing. To change it in the
opposit direction is a very different
matter.
The intimation that the Japanese
government, Of its own volition and
on its own initiative may check the
emigration Of Japanese citizens, is
however, entirely acceptable to rel-
son. 1t was urged a few weeks ago
that it was not to Japan's interest to
have many Japanese eXpatriate them
selves, and that the Japanese govern
ment probably regarded such emigra-
ton with disfavor That view of the
case is strongly supported by the
present limitations of Japan's in
tentions, and will be completely
| justified if they are confirmed. Tie
case is simple. Japan has a popula-
ton of only 45,0OO,O00, which is not
increasing at particularly rapid
rate. 1t is true her territorial area
| is not large, but it is so large that
her population is only little more
dense than that of France, not nearly
so dense as that of England, and
scarcely half so dense as that of Bel
| GUM. though. because of the thrift
| of her people, she could probably
sustain a denser population than any
| of those countries. Moreover, there
is the great island OF Formosa, which
belongs to her and which contains
| only few Japanese settlers; there
is Corea, lying within sight of her
own shores and under her protection
| and control, with sparse popula-
ton and with enormous natural re-
sources to be developed, and there
is the vast expanse of Manchuria for
the colonization and development of
which Japan has the strongest
reasons. Common sense would sug-
gest that if any considerable number
of Japanese are to depart from the
isles of Nippon it would be far pref
cradle, for the empires sake, that
they should go to one of these three
| countries, rather than to some remote
foreign land.
1t is no unheard of thing for a
government to discourage emigration
or to seek to direct its course. 1t
would be comparatively easy for the
Japanese government to 10 so effec-
lively, because of the loya reverence
with which the people of Japan re-
| gard their emperor. If the Japanese
government pursues such a course
the result will be accepted as a sat
isfactoy solution of what might be-
come an awkward problem. In any
case, however, whether or not Jap
anese immigration hither is stopped
! by the voluntary action of the imper:-
al government, there can be no ques-
! ton as to the course to be pursued
toward the Japanese who are now in
this country. They are entitled by
the most solemn and supreme en-
gagements of this government, to all
the protection, rights and privileges
which are enjoyed by immigrants
from any other land, and in all mat
ters connected with the administra-
ton of justice they stand on an exact
equality with natural born American
citizens. We cannot believe that any
state will seriously and persistently
attempt to deny them such a status,