The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-11
THE CENSORSHIP IN JAPAN.
IT'S WAYS SHOWN ~ RECENT
ANTI-AMERICAN FLyRRY.
warnings Conveyed 20 Editors ny a Smiling
N Bowins CecdarIne-I They Are
Not Needed Arrest, Fine. ImDrlSon-
ment or COnnscatiOn May Follow,

NUt AMCGNIgtt SNHNNoNe hhN hAUhITbNfNl-
mcnt or ConnscstiOn May Follow.
When the first kilograms from Toxic
recently announced the displeasure of tho
Japanese Government and people 81 the
exclusion Of Japanese children from san
Francisco's schools mention was made
OF the part the Toxic newspapers were
playing In tanning the anti-Amer1cau
sentiment. Later it was cabled that the
Toxic papers had changed their tone. Here
is a rood illustration Of the power of the
Japanese censorship.
Probably the explanation of this sudden
change on the part of the Japanese press is
simple-the same one indeed that accounted
for the sudden smothering of the editorial
voice Of protest after the treaty OF Ports
mouth was signed last year. A little note
from the Premier to all the editors of Toxic,
carried by a smiling and bowling gendarne
and delivered with many protestations Of
regard, doubtless warned the Toxic news
paper heads that further exploitation of the
grievance OF Japan against San Francisco
would he displeasing to the Government and
that regrettable measures would follow IL
the, warning was disregarded.
The incident serves to explain the position
held by the press in Japan. The widest
possible latitude seems to be given the
v~ernacular press, but the closest surveil-
lance and the harshest repression is, as n
matter of fact, the condition under which
the papers are allowed to exist. That
smiling, bowling gendarme from the Pre-
mier's office with his little note Of warning
has always to be considered.
The japanese have a deep regard for the
power of government. The only serious
uprising against the Government hat has
occurred during the Meiji era was that
following the declaration Of the peace at
Portsmouth. 1t was qIelled by the troops
In three days,
Whatever is done by hat small governing
group, the Elder Statesmen, in reality adj
visers Of the Emperor but having no official
place in the soheme of government, Is
accepted implicitly by the people as being
the law. The doings of Parliament may
be assailed with Western Cervor and the
actions of the Ministry may sometimes
come under public question; but never
does the mandate of the Elder Statesmen,
clothed in the orders of the Premier, find
acceptance in a manner other than that Of
blind obedience.
The papers in Japan sometimes thunder
against the parllamentarians. Editorials
often depart from the decorous in their
tone and denounce the acts of some public
officer or set of officers. But when that
close circle about the person Of the Emperor
speaks not even the yellowest journalistic
dog banks. 1t is dangerous.
The Premier Of Japan may at his discre-
ton and without appeal from his mandate.
suspend or confiscate any offending news
paper or magazine published in Japan,
either by citizens or foreigners. Upon his
orders local magistrates may fine any
publication that breaks the rules. There
are no court proceedings.
The arrest of an editor may be accom-
panied by the confiscation of his paper or
IL may simply serve as a warning that con-
f~soation is impending. In this case the
culprit il tried on n cTiminal charge and
fine or imprisonment may be his portion.
Every paper in Toxic is said to nave A
staf Of jail editors, men who are employed
to go to jail when the Government fist comes
down. They serve the term in prison while
the offending paper continues its course,
duly sobered by the prosecution of the
Government.
Some instructive instances Of the Govern
ment's regulation of the press occurred
during the war. Then the censorship bolts
on the papers were screwed down and the
lid was weighted with the tremendous
authority OF the war Cabinet.
To publish ANYTHING that might be in
formation Of value 10 the enemy was a
high crime against the Gov ernment and
it was made punishable by simple fine, by
fine and imprisonment or by the suspension
or confiscation of the offending publication.
Arising out Of the rgors OF this mandate
there came into being a cryptic form OF
news paragraph.
1t would be printed hat "a certain regi-
ment, under command OF a certain general
OF the til division, had advanced against
the enemy in the direction of Mo-tie-ling."
Or the news would be given out that "A
certain squadron had been ordered TO unite
with. another certain squadron for the re-
duction Of Kabafuto."
Once when there was a plague in Kobe
and the police were trying to exterminate
the disease spreading rats the native trans
lator for an American paper in Yokohama
turned in the following piece of news, which
ives printed without change:
The police Of N~ipponbashi-ku yester-
day killed n certain rat in front of a certain
house on HonchOdori, which was found to
be afflicted with the plague"
Some time near the end of the war tho
Osaka MDinichi, one Of the largest and most
influential papers in Japan, published the
fact that a torpedo destroyer, built en-
tirely in Japan, had just been launched at
the navy yards in Sasebo. The Mdipichi
was heavily fined.
An English newspaper in Kobe which
printed a TRANSLATION Of the Mdinichrs para
graph was fined an equal amount. The
peppery. Scotch editor OF the foreign paper,
49, hNhy yCaib ~ an country
and who thought that he was a loyal sup
porter OF the Japanese cause. roared so
tempestuously over the fine imposed upon
him that he got a little note threatening
his paper with suspension If any further
expression OF opinion should be made.
IL was during the troublous days follow
ing the signing Of the peace at Portsmouth
that the newspapers felt most heavily the
power OF the Government. The first day
Of the riots in Toxic two papers were sus-
pended Indefinitely, the Yomiuri Shimbun
and the YorodSN Choho, because they had
melted the people to rebel against the
mandate OF the Home Minister denying
Park az q place for an anti-peaoe
mass meeting. The Osaka Mdinichi again
came under a cloud. 1t was susp-.s;.,i a,-;
lts presses kept silent for six weeks.
The mobs at Toxic took out their revenge
On the sole organ Of the Government, the
n okumtn. This PAPER, subsidized by the
War Cabinet, had tried 70 pour oil
on the troubled waters. On the first dav ~
The riots a mob went to it's printing plantand
here broke the presses and pied the type.
AS there are several thousand characters
IN a ,Jananaaa nripfinn once - t.