Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12
THE ORIENT AND THE 0CCIDENT.

The boycott in the beginning was taken
u De sword with a single edge, but II
has proved to be two
A"o-Edged edged weapon. The boy
wo., colt by China Of Amert-
can commerce was the
nrst coup. The boycott by Bengal OF
Birmingham was the second. And now
Ohina in turn has turned her sword with
unsupported edge against Japan
Mr.. Thomas F. Millard. a journalist.
recently arrived from China. said: The
boycott has Japan on her knees. Before
left Hongkong twelve of the largest
guilds there met for two days and decided
10 continue the boycott to finish.
The boycott is hitting Japan so hard
.ha' Its government, through certain mer-
Ghants called the Chinese merchants In
Japan together In order to propose the
emu or the boycott. They proposed that
the Tatsu Maru indemnity be RENTED.
10 those whose minds are troubled by
.he phantom of an oriental invasion OF the
occident China's boycott of Japan con-
veys salutary and consoling lesson 1T
proves that there is no unity in the orient
mat race and caste divide Mongol and
Manchu and Japanese quite as much as
the various elements that divide the occi-
dent
The Statist for June p cites the author
OF recent book. The Empire of the
East who declares that neither China
nor Japan contemplates a struggle with
the west. If they were to be let alone
| alone"
The statist. however. asks pertinently
what opportunity has the author of the
aforementioned book had to learn the real
thoughts of the leaders either of Japan
or China. and adds:
1T is impossible for anybody. however
great his genius NAV be- to guess what
China will do in imaginary circumstances
Al VINO are In touch with China believe
mat she is waking up. But suppose she
does wake up, who can tell how she will
work out her revolution? What kind of
leaders may be at the top when 1t is ac-
complished. and therefore what policy
they may adopt?''
The Statist very wisely concludes that
the polcy of China and Japan toward the
the policy of Europe and the United
The Matin of July 5 is reported as con-
| tanning an article to which great i'm
| portance is attributed be-
ETencn cause it processes to prove
Prophecy. that war involving not
only the United States,
| but all the European powers, is inevi-
| table, The writer of the article does
not believe a Japanese american war
possible in the immediate future. but
would wait upon the completion Of the
| projected works in the Philippines by the
to the writer. will infallibly fall to Japan
when her ambition is fulfilled and the Eu-
ropean powers have been excluded from
Asia
1.-THE japanese zone of action" says
| the nameless writer in the Matin, lis in
China. The Japanese intend at no mat
| ter what cost to become the predomi-
nant power in Asia. They will not yield
| to anything that will lead them away
| from Asia or weaken them In ASIA.
Now, to be the predominant power in
Asia means manifestly they must become
! the master of China. For this reason, so
long as China is non-existent. from the
military point of view, Japan s most dam
gerous enemy is still Russia. The Japa-
nese realize clearly that such vast power
is not seriously crippled by single war
They know Russia has always extended
automatically toward Asia. and that she
is invading China as irresistibly as a ris-
ing tide
The writer in the Matin alludes to the
economical conditions which at present.
and for certain time. will prevent Japan
from going 10 war with the United States.
for such war would be blow to her
dreams Vi d great CoLiuciSC anu
to be created.
And the writer in the Matin concludes:
"The japanese are in a period OF transit
ton and of military and economic de-
velopment They will reappear upon the
scene in a few years but it will be in
Asia and in China that their cannon will
be heard"
The resignation Of the Japanese cabi-
net, Of which the Marquis Saionji was
prime minister. marks
Japan's the elimination of a
r.,.; financial crisis which
was inevitable. Marquis
Inouye secretary Of the home depart
ment, opposed the proposed policy Of re-
trenchment in the army and navy. the
postponement of public work, the estab-
lishment of a sinking fund and the year
ly repayment of loans. 1t is significant
that although the Saionji cabinet resigned
on the 4th of July. no successors nave
been found and it is stated that the
stumbling block is the portfolio OF
finance, no one being willing so far to &C
cept the post.
The peace Of Portsmouth, mas not peg tn
without cruel receptions for Japan In
the first place the Chinese boycott or
American goods, and recession OF the
Hankow railroad concession 10 emma APP
Deared to indicate the eDD tlOe OF AHieii-
can influence in China. After the peace
of Portsmouth Japan would invite the
capitalists of Europe and America TO
Toxic. Yokohama, Nagasaki. Hakodatl
and Seoul to aid her in exploiting the
industries of these countries and those OF
China on such a scale as would place
Japan at once on the pinnacle OF poiltlcal
as well as military success. Ihe amor
tions have not been realized.
In the able article on foreign AFFAIRS IN
the Contemporary Review for FEBRUARY LIT.
Dillon announced that Japan was totter,
ing under the financial burdens imposed
nv the necessity of being ever ready 10
strike at moments notice." Five years
back Nippon's accounts were balanced
with about 100000 yen, whereas this
wear the total of 616.OOO,OOO had been
reached.
To meet this relatively enormous eXpen-
diture is the herculean task which the
mikado's government must accomplish II
Japan is to hold her own among the sol
Vent nations of the earth How difficult
of solution this problem Is, even with the
wonderful self denial Of the people as an
auxiliary. may be gathered from the sta
tistics published by the Japanese review,
the Togo Kaitsaw which says:
First Of all the foreign debt of the en-
pire is about $3.50, 100000 yen and the in
terest on this sum Is an exhausting drain
on the slender resources Of the Industrious
and thrifty population
with a budget Of 616OOO.O 600 yen Ca yen
ject Of the mikado, man,