The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-15
WY JAPAN WANTS NO WAR.

(Willam II. Brill in Lcslies Weekly.)
There are those who believe that
the time will come when America
and Japan must right for the mas
terry of the Pacific, but even if that
time is coming it is many years
away. Neither country wants to
fight now; neither country has any
excuse for fighting. While the
mastery of the Pacific may some
day cause the two couutrics TO APP
peal to arms, neither of them today
has the slightest desire for war,
and neither has the slightest thing
to gain from war. Japan has her
hands full in Korea and Manchuria
and America is not yet awake to
the fact that her future lies in the
Pacific. That talk of war is silly
becomes evident il one makes even
a cursory examination Of the facts.
In the first place, no one believes
that the American government
would precipitate war, but there
are many who believe that the Jap
anese government intends to do so.
One statement is as foolish as the
other. Japan has no idea of max
ing war on the United States, and
even if she wanted to do so it would
be impossible for many reasons.
Some one once said that in order to
carry on war country needed
ten things. The first was determi-
nation, the second men, the third
and the other seven
money. Now, admitting that the
Japanese as nation possessed the
first of these, determination to fight
the United States, what of the 9TH
er requirements?
First, money. Japan's lack of
if nothing else, would serve
to prevent war at this time. In 1902
the Japanese national debt amount
ed to about $2Is, 200, 900, of which !
only $50, ,ooc, 900 was held abroad. |
Today the national debt is approx
5000, 900, 900. two-tnirds of
which is foreign. In 1902 the total
revenue of the government was
about SI47, 900, 900, and the eXpen-
iitures were ABOUT SI44, 900, 900.
The estimated revenue for 1907 was
sI2o, 900, 900, and the estimated
$500, 900, 900, This
difference was to be made up in
part by the floating of another loan
IF $Ioo, 900, 600 On the foreign
oans which Japan hoated for the
purpose of paying the expenses of
he war with Russia interest is be-
ng paid at from four to six per
,ent., and on her internal loans the
interest runs from five to seven per
cent. Efforts are now being made
70 withdraw the six per cent. bonds
and replace them with bonds draw
ng only four and one-half per cent.
To secure her enormous foreign
oans, made at time when Japan
was fighting for her very existence,
he japanese were forced to pledge
most of their national income, their
customs receipts and the receipts
Of the tobacco and other monopo.
les.
With this financial showing,
where could Japan obtain the mon
~ required for a very long and
very costly war? The money that
defeated Russia came from America
and England. In a war with the
United States what country is there
that would take the chance of loan
ing Japan such an enormous sum
as would be required? No matter
how much sentiment there might
be in Japan's favor-and there is at
least one great Power that would
without doubt welcome such a con-
aict-sentiment has never been a
failing of the great European bank
ers, and 1t is from them, in the end,
hat the money must come.