Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
JAPANESE NOW
/ PAYING THE PIPER
RESULTS OF RECENT FAMINES
ARE SERIOUS
Industries and Ventures Throughout
the Country Burdened With Tax
ation-Great Expense of Ar
senaIs and Dock Yards
BY Kimberley Darlington

Special Cable to The Herald.
TOXIC, Aug. 11.-Japan is now pay
ing the piper for the events of the past
thirty months. What the war did not
accomplish the economic results of the
recent famines, more serious than the
world will ever know, have accom-
plished. On every hand the pinch of
the peoples poverty is evident to one
who has seen them in the height of their
prosperity and prestige, while the effect
on the well-being of foreign inhabitants
is little less than disastrous. In some
cases the import duties on foreign COM
modities, articles necessary to foreign
ers, have been increased by $50 per
cent while every industry and venture
throughout the country is burdened
to an extent which makes it a matter
of wonder as to how they are kept go
ing. If there was any visible sign of a
policy of retrenchment being inaugur-
ated and carried through this state of
affairs might call for no comment, but
on the contrary, it is evident even to
the most casual observer that no halt
has been called in the expenditure on
armaments and military preparations
There is no diminution in the expense of
the arsenals and dockyards; rather the
contrary and the signs of activity both
in military and naval circles vary little
from those pertaining to those early
weeks of 1904 before war broke out
And the greatest disgust is every
where expressed because England, the
ally of Japan, under the present Lib
eral government is not as imperalistic
to the army and navy as at the time
the Anglo-Japanese treaty was signed.
aE
The Japanese press criticises the re-
duction of the British army, saying that
in the event of trouble being caused
thereby the. chief sufferer would be
Japan as the ally of England. The
papers stigmatize Mr. Haldanes plan
as wrestling in another mans waist
coat" and call attention at the offense
given to English political sections some
years ago, when the "little Japanese"
opposed an increase of the japanese
navy on account of England's naval
strength in the far east. They continue
that Mr.. Churchills argument that
Japanese strength in the east is favor
able to the relations of England in Eu-
rope with France, Russia and. Ger
many and that therefore no rupture is
probable in the next ten years is too
optimistic. The 10 Ku Min says that
it is well to remember that Japan is
not living in a world of ideals. but of
realities. The Jill Shimpo thinks that
even if a reduction of ornaments were
proposed by Great Britain at the next
Hague conference it is doubtful whether
it would even be seriously discussed.
All Of these things duly tend to show
that Japan is growing more and more
mperalistic in tone and tenor year by
year.
The Marquis Ito Is determinedly at
tempting to redeem the japanese ad-
ministration of Korea by eliminating
Incompetent officials and by the promo
tion of important Improvements. Strong
checks are being put upon the rapacity
of Japanese settlers, and officials are
now seeking with considerable success
to bring the disorderly japanese ele-
ments under control. The Marquis Ito
says it is his intention to investigate
and redress cases were the Japanese
have appropriated Korean lands.
Unfortunately, the good effects are
partly neutralized by the inferior Jap
anese policy here, which alienated not
only the bureaucracy but the common
atty, The young children in the streets
of Seoul curse Japan.
The emperor is guarded by Japanese
gendarmeS and cannot move in the
simplest affair without consent.