The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05

Japanese are making a campaign for com merelal and political supremacy the end et which may be a world-snakng contro- %vrsy. Owing to the necessity Of provid- s1g more territory for the support of their people, it is feared that the Japanese statesmen may insist upon a programme that will lead to grave international com plications.
 It was manifestly the Russian purpose to obtain control over China and to ex- clude from this vast territory the other nations of the world. If this policy hal triumphed Japan would have been for ever dWarfed and it's commercial progress stopped. While Japan's interests were thus more vital the other great powers also looked aslSance upon Russian ag- Gressiveness. Therefore when Japan took ID the gage and gave battle, the rest Of inc world looked on and applauded. Tho exhibition of skill and valor by the Japa- rese army and navy in that was was, Indeed. marvellous, but wonderful as it was it did not deserve the extravagant praise and acclaim with which it was re- oeived If the Japanese had their heads turned by the success of their arms, the fault lies largely with those who flattered them and exaggerated their performances entirely out of proportion to their real value.
 When the war ended tho treaty between Japan and Russia permitted Japan to exercise control over Corea, but stipulated that the civil authority in Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese, In whom it was rightfully vested, and that the "open door" should be maintained. Three years have passed since the war, and now it is chaxgCd that Japan has failed to abide by the spirit of it's treaty agreements, however it has kept to the letter, and that Japanese aggression in Manchuria, and even in China proper, is of exactly the same nature as that of the Russian. It IS charged that American commercial interests al more effectually shut out )f Mai.elur:a now than during the cre of Russian domination, and that Japan IS showing evidence of disposition to shut ID China to all of the other pow CTS. Il his is why tne Japanese have sud- denly ceased to pe the pct children of the natlons
 The American interests in this question is peculiar The United States Is the only one of the gicdt powers which has not been suspcc ted Of designs upon DOT ton of the territory of China. When the war between Russia and Japan began, John Hay, Secretary of State, addressed a note to the tW. warning powers and obtained thef pledges that the fight would be confined to Mancnuria and that other Chinese territory should remain inviolate. Thus the United states stands today In the attitude Of the chief champion of the territorial integrity Of the Chinese em- pire. The Amerio an government is the only one that any oi the powers will trust in China, and it is also the only one in which the Chnese have confidence.
 Thus the theatre of the drasna of world politics has been removed to the Orient. In the cast of players there is a new actor of different blood. For the first time in modern history, an Asiatic na- ton, emerging from hermetic secIuson which had bound 1t since the days when Alexander the Great wrested the scepter of world rule from Asia, has become figure of commanding interest. The prog ress of Japan since 1t took on western ways is the most rapid in the history Of nations. But wonderful as it is, it is not possible that in 90 years it could so change as to measure up to the stand ards of the Occident, acquired through the experience of 20 centuries of blood and struggle.
 Japan has adopted Occidental civiliza- ton as one puts on cloak Under meath the white shirt-front of the Japan ese statesman still beats the heart of an Oriental For this reason this newest and greatest issue in world politics is uncertain Ever since civilization evolved a code of international morals, all the great powers have been Christian, have been of the white race, and have had more or less common education. Ihe Japanese does not think as the Occidental thinks. Clever as he may be in adopt ing western guns and western dress, he is charged with being unable to com prehend the white mans code, or being incapable of playing the game in the white mans way. This is why the pre- diotion is made that he may unsettie the peace of the world.
 Copyright, 1908, by Frederic J. Haskin)