Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-27
BUSINESS CONQUEST
JAPAN'S FIRST AIM
NIPPON NOT YET PREPARED FOR
WAR
Rapid Expansion of Merchant Marine
Is Paramount Desire of Japan.
Liberal Bounties Cause Sud-
den Increase In Shipping

Special to The Herald.
WASHINGTON, Dec 26.-Ambassador
Aokis recall to Japan, coming almost
the fleet for the Pacific, has started fresh
rumors afloat as to the imminence of a
violent break in the friendly relations
between the United States and the mi
kados empire. On the other hand rep
resentatives of both countries assert un-
officially that the situation Is better than
it has been for months past. Officially,
of course, 1t is not recognized that there
has ever been a crisis in the relations
of the two countries, but the very fact
that officials are willing to admit that
the situation was at one time decidedly
strained is regarded as the best irdica-
tion that the acute stage is past and
that the authorities see a clear under
standing ahead.
Another phase OF the situation is pre-
sented by Adachi Kinnosuke, the well
known Japanese writer in an exceed
ingly frank article in the January APP
pleton's, which has aroused much in
terest here in diplomatic and administra-
tive circles According to Mr.. kinno-
suke Japan does not want war, because
she Is too much concerned in securing
the absolute commercial mastery of the
Pacific by the rapid expansion OF her
merchant fleets. She is straining every
nerve to accomplish this before the
United States wakes UP to the impor-
tance of building and operating CONNER
cial vessels in the Pacific That the land
of .he rising sun will be ready to fight
to maintain her advantage when her
conquest is secure Mr.. Kinnosuke does
not say, but 1t may be inferred from
what he tells Of his country's past policy.
UpbuildIng Preparatory
The rapid expansion of Japan's ship
ping interests in the period following the
war with China, the extension OF ship
yards and the building of ships, he says,
was for the one purpose of preparing
for war with Russia. At the present
time the expansion is much greater and
the ships that are being turned out are
larger and more important.
In 1903 the total tonnage of Japan's
merchant fleet, according to the figures
given in the article, was 657,269 tons,
made up of steamers. AT the present
time the tonnage is over 100000. The
Nippon Yusen Kaisha. the largest of the
Japanese companies, has a greater tom
mage than any ocean steamship company
in the United States and Is adding new
lines and new steamships every year A
significant undertaking is the establish
ment of new Japanese company which
is cooperate a hundred vessels from the
beginning. covering practically all Pa
cific ports.
Against all this Nippon activity" says
the writer, what has the United States
done to cover the Pacific? The merchant
tonnage of the United States on the
Pacific does not seem to be one-halr
that of Nippon; one can figure 1t In many
ways, but this is the best he can say
of it. When it comes to the transpaeific
service the showing is much worse. we
have heard from Mr.. Hill; he Is not
going to replace the Dakota-We cannot
see why he should.
May Purchase in U. S.
''offers have been made and there is
reason to believe arc being made now
by Nippon companies for the purchase
of the ships of the Pacific Mail Steam
ship company and those of the Oceanic
Steamship company"
AS showing that Japan is thoroughly
in earnest in her determination to con-
troll the Pacific Mr.. Kinnosuke quotes the
Japanese subsidy law which gives from
121k to 30 cents a ton for every 1000 miles
sailed by a ship owned in Japan. 1t
also grants a bounty of SO to $12 ton
and $5 a horse power on every ship built
in Japanese yards
The conclusion reached from reading
the statements of this outspoken Japan
ese writer is that Japan will not fight
now because she Is not ready. When
she has secured the commercial mastery
of the Pacific and when, as seems likely,
the American flag has entirely disap-
peared from that ocean there may be
Iugr kn toll