The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-07
Japan S Diplomatic Game
by FREDERIC ). uAskIN.

Japan = 1lPl,
BY FREDERIC >. uAsI<IN.
Tokyo.
japan Ia playing diplomatic game
with Il definite purpose In vicW--to
become the leader OF Asia. to dominate
the richest and most populous contl-
nent on the globe, and to become
world power In fact as we'll az In the
courteous Acknowledgements OF diplo.
mptists. The Japanese nation Is stu
under control OF the same mon who
brought 1t out from the yellow mono
chrome of Asiatic heathenism and made
1T one of the first-class nations. This
fact must not be lost sight OF, for. II
means that men wise enough and able
enough to accomplish that great feat
IN forty years are too wise and too
able to be wasting their energy In a
Ipurposeless pursuit.
The two wars fought By. Japan in
ultimate object in view-the securing
lof n foothold on the mainland of Asia.
IIf Japan is cabined, cribbed and con.
fined within the narrow limits OF rs
Island home It will never be great
power. The Japanese know. that. But
lif, like England. 1t can make that Is
land home basis from which 1t can
world, then 1t can hope to become IN
the Pacific what England is in the
Atlantic.
As a result of the war with China.
Japan wrcsted from the Chinese the
predominant Influence in Korea and
seized an important piece of Chinese
Territory. the Lao Tung Peninsula. The
tract. Time went on and Russian In
)fluence in Korea became menacing.
Russia obtained lease on Fort Ar.
thur. on the same peninsula which ia
pan had once held. and Russian ag-
gression threatened China. Again ia
pan went to war. ostensiby to free
Korea. to maintain the open door" In
Manchuria and to save China from the
Russians.
The real result OF the war was that
Japan practically annexed Korea: that
Japan has followed the Russian initla-
| tive in Manchuria with more than Rus
san as ;;ss and tha i Is NOW
lpire. All OF these events. stretching
through period of sixteen or seven
teen years. serve to point out the course
japan is pursuing. looking always to
Japanese domination OF Asia.
| Japan has not been signaliy SUCCESS
ful in the world OF diplomacy. The
VICTORIES II won on field and sea in
the war with Russia were not reflect
Its success In forming the alliance with
England and the subsequent ententes
/ with France and Russia was due In
large part to the desire OF the Fl,ro-
Japan made fatal error in diplomacy
when it raised the question concerning.
1.-THE San Francisco school incident is
everywhere admitted for IT was the
purely sentimental regard for Japan.
Within the last few weeks Japan so
bungled the quarrel with China regard
| ing the gun smuggling ship Tatsu Ma
attention OF the world to the fact that
its stronger neighbor was taking adj
Vantage OF Chinese weakness to force
acceptance OF Japanese demands with
tout hearing.
Whatever advantage japan has gain
ed in its struggle for supremacy has
been the result of war. or OF some
other nations aid. But these facts do
from pushing forward in their own Pc
culiar way. The story OF the strang-
ulation OF Korean independence by the
Japanese has been told to the world.
domination of Korea for It's own pur-
poses and as a base for further az
| gression on the mainland of Asia is
clearly indicated by the trend Of
events.
Korea just now Is the most fruitful
| field OF endeavor for Protestant mis-
sionaries in the world American mis-
sion boards are sending scores OF men
are meeting with a measure of sue.
cess unprecedented in the history Of
modern missions. The Japanese atti-
Itude toward these missions is that OF
missionaries for the gifts of educa-
ton they bring. But the Japanese
know that the American missionary
Is always q partisan Of the people
lamong whom he lives and works. Thus
the missionary in China is pro-Chinesc,
lin Japan he is -pro-Japanese and In
Korea he is pro-K orean.
Prince Ito. resident.general in Ko-
|rea, actual head of the. Korean gov
eminent and real head Of the Japanese
4 Thought about the American rn mission M
aries in Korea. He picked up a match
and placed It at arms length from
other matches and placed them near
the edge Of the table in parallel lines,
pointing toward the first match. This
first match represents the betterment
OF the condition q the common peo-
parallel matches are the missionaries
and myself We are both working for
the betterment Of the Korean peo-
Fple: they along religious lines and
Hong as these lines are parallel there
will be no conflict. But ii the mis-
| |sionaries turn aside ever 50 slightly to
interfere in politics; then the time will
!, |tinued Prince Ito, moving the two
i matches In illustration. When that
!, time comes" the elder statesman
!, flicked the missionary match from the
, table with his fingernal.
j, But the world powers have sgnfied
], their acquiescence In the Japanese, oc-
!, cupation OF Korea, and perhaps there
! can be no objection to the Japanese
!, methods there from a diplomatic. point
tlof view. Manchuria. however, Is an.
!. other story. The Russians occupied
{ this Chinese province Just after ~, the i.
: Boxer trouble eight years ago. They
CONTINUALLY promised to get out. but
t refused to go until the Japanese army
!, |drovc them from the southern nne
a richest portion of the territory. This
: Japanese took possession and an.
/ nounced that the open door polio.
t was in force, and that all nations
might come in and trade. Janan. con:
$ trolled the South Manchurian Railroad
} soldiers there to guard II; althouEl
4 ostensihy turning over civil authority
TO the Chinese government.
But Observation-Disclosures = This M,no rSnsT
tell off. and all merchants other thar
Japanese have. since lahorea un ,,a
Il great disadvantages. Japanese lner'
/! chandise Is shipped into Manchuria II