Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-05

ia A N government and the people of
E ASI the Japanese empire are in
lsszz5eAYI teresting themselves is that
of getting into Japanese
hands the business transacted upon
Japanese soil. Formulated into slo-
gan, this movement might be described
as 1.-The island for the ISLANDERS Many
foreigners who are financially inter
ested in the continuance of the life of
the foreign business house and the for
eign settlement in the larger centers of
population are viewing The prospect
with alarm.
The westerner who comes to the Ori-
ent does not exile himself from a con-
genial atmosphere without the hope of
adequate compensation in rupees, in
dollars, in taels or in yen, as the case
NAV be. In exchange for giving up
home and friends and his residence in
what he calls Goods country" he must
have a larger income than he could
earn in his native land. He must be
able to maintain a larger establish
ment, a larger retinue of servants, a
carriage or carriages. He must have
cook who is a chef He must be able
to nav his bills at a fashionable foreign
club, He must have the whereWlthal
to stand the expense of social life that
is made up of dinners, cricket matches,
race meetings and the other forms of
ment" has introduced in countries
where the seclusion of women has al
ways tended to narrow the scope OF So
cial activity. In short and in fine, ne
must live as he would have liked to
live at home rather than as he did live,
or would have lived had he elected to
remain there. Otherwise why submit
to his exile?
Throughout the Orient the foreigner
has proceeded, in his business life and
social life, upon the theory that white
skin means superiority in industrial
ability and social status. He has ac-
cepted the Oriental as an employe in
his trading house and as a servant IN
his home, but not as his business part
ner or his social equal. The foreign
settlement and its places of public
amusement as well as it's homes have
been apart from the native cities. Hin
duism in Inda-forbidding the Indian
of high caste to eat with the foreigner
was sufficient for a long time to pre-
vent friction from occurring between
the English and the Indians, but even
in India the fact that the European
does not approve of the native In a
high position in business, and does not
admit him to his club, is cause of dis
content. In British Malaga, where the
indolent and easy-going population
concerns itself very little with govern
mental, industrial or social questions
so long as it is let alone, the foreigner
may appropriate to his uses as much
territory as he likes, and enjoy all OF
the top side" in business affairs, and
a segregated social existence, without
causing resentment. But the Japanese
chafes under the assumption of the
European that he is entitled to a lions
share of the profitable business because
of his ability, and to social pre-emi-
nence and isolation because of his racial
superiority. Moreover, Japan, is poor
and ambitious She feels that She needs
every dollar that toll or executive abtl-
ity creates within her boundaries. She
proposes in time to get every needed
dollar.
It was not without a we'll defined OBJ
ject that Japan secured the abolition of
the right of Internationally in 1898.
It is not without a reason that the
japanese oppose the suggestions of the
treaty powers that the right of owner
ship of real estate in Japan should be
extended to foreigners. When Ger
many pressed this point in connection
with treaty renewal negotiations, the
imperial government took the position
that economic conditions were too
primitive in this country to allow the
extension of such right. The point
made was that misfortune might pc
brought upon small farmers. This is
of course an absurdity, for the reason
that no European is likely to want to
invest in farm lands in this country.
There is no opportunity for European
or American farmer in Japan. The real
reason for the position of the govern
ment is that it is hoped that foreigners
as an element in commercial life may
be gradually eliminated It is expect
ed that in the approaching revision of
treaties the powers will demand that
the right to own land shall be extend
ed. If there is concerted pressure jap
an must for the time submit. If she
does it will be under her time-tried
policy of biding her time and awaiting
an opportunity to enforce her will.
Foreigners in Japan, seeing the pid-
gin English word "finish' written upon
the wall are discussing the question of
their future acrimoniously. A Japan
ese newspaper recently published an
extended article declaring the days of
the foreign merchant end foreign set
tlement numbered. The customs re-
turns for the last year show that out
Of total import business of 190,0 900
yen in Kobe 110,000,000 was done by
Japanese. The commerce of Osaka,
sometimes called the Birmingham of
Japan, is almost exclusively in the
hands of Japanese. Japanese are
gradually absorbing the overseas
trade of Yokohama. A TOXIC journal
printed in English, but published in
the interests of Japan, recently called
attention to this. A pro-foreigner
newspaper in Kobe replied that while
the japanese have recently claimed a