Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-27
JAPAN NOT READY FOR WAR.

dor Aoki's recall to Japan, coming
almost at the same mement as the
departure of the feet for the Pacl-
fc, has started fresh rumors ahoat
as to the imminence of a violent
break in the friendly relations be-
tween the United states and the Mi
kado's empire. On the other hand,
Representatives of both countries as
lsert unoflcially that the situation
is better than It has been for months
past. Omcially of course It is not
recognized that there has ever been
crisis in the relations of the two
countries, but the very fact that Of
ficials are willing to admit that the
satuation was at one time decidedly
strained Is regarded as the best in
dication that the acute stage is past
and that the authorities see a clear
understanding ahead.
Another phase of the situation Is
presented by Adachi Kinnesuka, the
well-known Japanese writer, in the
Exceedingly frank article in the jan
uary Appleton's, which has aroused
much interest here in diplomatic and
administration circles. According
ito Mr. Kinnesuka, 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 mer-
chant fleets. She Is straining every
nerve to accomplish this before the
United States wakes up to the Inn
portance OF building and operating
commercial vessels in the Pacific.
That the Land OF the Rising Sun will
be ready to fight TO maintain her ad-
vantage when her conquest Is secure.
Mr.. Kinnesuke does not say, but It
may be inferred from what he tells
OF his countrys past policy.
The rapid expansion OF Japan's
shipping interests in the period fol-
lowing the war with China, the ex-
tension OF ship yards and the build
Ing OF ships, says Mr.. Kinnesuke,
was for the one purpose OF preparing
for war with Russia. At the pres
ent time the expansion is much
greater and the ships that are being
turned ont are larger and more Inn
portant. In 1908 the total tonnage
OF Japan's merchant fleet, according
10 the figures given In the Appleton
article, was 657.269 tons. made up
OF steamers. AZ the present time
the tonnage Is over 100000. The
Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the largest
of the japanese companies, has a
greater tonnage than any ocean
steamship company in the United
States and Is adding new lines and
new steamships every year. A sig
nificant undertaking Is the establish
ment OF new Japanese company
which Is 10 operate a hundred YES
sells from the beginning, covering
practically all Pacific ports.
Against all this Nippon activ-
ity." says the writer, what has the
United States done to cover the Pa
cihc? The merchant tonnage of the
United States on the Pacific does not
seem to be one-half that of Nippon.
one can figure &, in many ways, but
this Is the best he can say of II.
When It comes to the trans-Paclfic
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. Offers
have been made and, there Is reason
to believe, are being made now by
Nippon companies for the purchase
of the ships of the Pacific Mail
steamship company and those OF the
Oceanic Steamship company"
AS showing that Japan is thor
oughly in earnest in her determina-
ton to control the Pacific. Mr.. Kin
nesuke quotes the Japanese subsidy
law which gives from 12h to 80
cents ton lot NNclN AfNNN hiAN'
sailed by a ship owned in Japan. 1t
also grants a bounty of Sc to S12 a
ton and s. a horse power on every
ship built in Japanese yards.
The conclusion reached from read
ing the statements of this out-spo-
ken Japanese writer is that Japan
will not fight now because she Is
not ready. When she has secured
the commercial mastery of the Pa
cifc and when. as seems likely, the
American flag has entirely disap-
peared from that ocean, there may
me a different story TO tell.