The sun., 1907-08-11
Will Germany Finance Japan?


An incident upon which it is suggested
that more light is desirable is the telc-
graphed arrival in Berlin of Mr. SoJEDA,
the head Of a syndicate of eight Japa-
nese banks recently formed for the pur-
pose of negotiating Government loans in
Europe He will try, We are told, to
place in Germany bonds to the amount
of $50, 900 OOO and a conference between
him and representatives of the German
banks will take place on August IL.
What is the money wanted for?
In Germany, and for that matter in
every country on the European Conti-
nent, bankers do not lend money to for
eign Powers If the transaction meets with
the earnest disapproval OF their Govern
ment. They know that they could not
hope for the aid of their Foreign Office
in the collection of a debt contracted
undersuch circumstances. We may take
for granted that Emperor WILLIAM will
require the most explicit assurances con-
, cerning the objects to which the loan
asked for will be applied. 1t is incred-
ible that he would wipe out at a stroke
the extremely favorable impression
which his repeated demonstrations of
friendship have made on the American
people, an impression deepened by the
cordial support given by Baron MAR
scHALL Won BIEBERsTEIN to the proposals
submitted to the Hague conference by
the delegates of the United States.
What is true of Germany is equally true
D,s, -
other great European Powers which are
in a position to face the risk Of making
large pecuniary advances 10 an Asiatic
Government.
Only, therefore, by an exhibition Of
gross duplicity, which would place her
outside the pale Of International comfy,
could Japan use the proceeds of a loan
obtained in Berlin, Paris or London for
the furtherance of aggressive designs
upon our insular possessions in the
Pacific Equally devoid of foundation is
the rumor, said 10 be current in Berlin,
that Japan would use the $4,000, 900
asked for as first payment on account
for the purchase of the Philippine ISL
ands, if Congress should express during
the coming winter a willingness to sell
them. There is not the faintest indica-
ton of an intention or an inclination to
enter into such bargain on the part Of
the Executive or the legislative depart
ment of our Federal Government. Should
our republic get tired of holding the
Philippines it will declare them inde-
pendent II will not sell eight millions
Of human beings for cash.
Even if we should ever dee~.it expe-
dent to transfer the PhilipLNes, with
the consent Of their inhabitants, to the
protection of another Power, it would be
our duty to use our influence to persuade
the rlipinos to select for the purpose a
country which, after long experience in
the administration of colonies, has shown
itself fit executant Of so serious trust.
1t is too early for US TO Judge whether il
would be right to confide TO Japan the
destinies of a people the majority Of
whom are Christians. We have as yet
no means of drawing an Illuminating de-
duction from her method of dealing with
Formosa and Corea, because her admin
istrative experiments in those regions
have only begun, and because the inhab-
itants of the island and Of the peninsula
mentioned are for the most part Bud
dhists'or followers of CoYFUcIUs.
We are disposed to think~ that the
rumormongers who ascribe to Japan an
intention Of APPLYING the loan asked for
in Berlin to either the forcible seizure
or the purchase Of the Philippines have
dEcoverpd mares nests. II is far more
probabp that the Toxic Government is