Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-30


are rapidly coming into the government.
and what you might call a commercial
party Is being developed"
But you must not consider the words
military party in the sense that the OH
Gals composing it are all soldiers. and
hence anxious to direct Japan along
military lines. They are merely the
descendants of soldiers. educated to civil
administration. 1t is true that many OF
them are members of the army. but their
aim is the development Of Japan along the
lines of peace
The conversation here turned to Korea.
and I asked Marquis katsura whether it
was the intention of the government 10
make the Koreans independent under
Japanese protection. He replied that it
was. that the japanese did not want to
hoped that Korea would be able to govern
itself with the advice of Japan. He
denied that the Japanese are orerrunning
the country and said the door there is
practically open to foreign trade
X +
I asked him if the japanese expected
to colonize any part of the country. He
replied that they did not: and that they
would only attempt to fill up the un-
occupied spaces and develop waste lands.
He spoke highly OF Marquis Ito's work in
Korea, and he evidently thinks that the
country will rapidly improve under his
administration.
Our next subject was Manchuria. con-
corning which I asked his excellency if
Japan expected to maintain the open
door there. He replied:
Mos assured1y SO. We hope that the
trade of Manchuria will be free to all
nations. 1t is so now Indeed the
greater part OF the trade there is in the
hands Of nations other than the japanese.
Both the United States and Great Britain
do considerable business in Manchuiia. =
What are the prospects of the Chinese
combining with the japanese to furnish
capital for its Developments I asked.
They are not good just now. Both
countries are in need OF money. and they
have but little for undertakings outside
their own territories There Is union
of Chinese and Japanese capital as to
the exploitation Of large tracts of forest
along the ialu river. and this promises to
pay we'll. AS to Manchuria itself, it is
an enormous territory. with vast tracts
Of rich land and great mineral posi-
bilities. The country has not been care
fully prospected. and no one knows just
what it contains. 1t has large popula
ton. and 1t will eventually be valuable
market We are anxious to see the
country develop. ard we want. of course,
sible.'
Tell me something about your possess
sions in SaghaIien. that part OF the island
which the JaIanese got from Russia as &
result OF the war. Is it OF any value?
I'VE call that territory by the name of
karafuto." said Marquis katsura. we
, have had the country but short time.
and are not able to say yet just what it
is worth. The fisheries are considered
valuable, and this is especially of
herring and trout. We are Experiment.
ing there along agrieultur, Ines. There
is considerable land fitted for farming.
and since 1906 agricultural settlers have
been quartered In certain localities and
have been supplied with seed and domes-
tic animals We have also established
government experiment farms, and we
find that we can grow not only barley.
wheat and potatoes. but peas and beans
of all kinds. The island is rich in coal,
ard there is considerable al1uvial gold.
The forests also are valuable.
How are you getting along with For
mosa? You were once governor general
of that province?'
Eyes. l went there in 1897, at the close
of the military administration. and did
something as to reorganizing the island.
1t was my aim to make Il pay its own
expenses. and this policy has been car
ried on by my successors, Baron Nogi.
the late Viscount General Kodama and
Gen. Sakuma. great work was done
In the civil administration by Baron Goto.
The island has now been brought into
thorough subsection. It's finances have
been reformed and its resources SO de-
veloped that it Is now paying its own
way 1t Is a valuable territory and will
become more and more SO as time goes
on"
How about the Philippines? Has Japan
any ambition to possess them?'
NO" said the premier. Japan is glad
that the Philippines belong to the United
States, and We believe that 1t means
much to the peace of the orient and to
the peace OF the world that it is so. This