Evening journal., 1909-02-01
JAPAN'S FUNDS
EXHAUSTED
Empire Would Be Unable to
Engage in War With a
FirSt.CIaSS Power
PEOPLE UNDER HEAVY
BURDENS OF TAXATION

os,, lee clothworthy, star correspondent
of the United Press, who arrived to-day
from Tokio)
nv United Press Leased Special wire
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. Japan can
epbt no nation for fifteen years. There Is
no more probability OF the Mikado maNins
war on the United states than there Is Oh
tho sultan of Zula leading an expedition
against Great Britain.
rbo .war scare" which developed IN
the California Legislature could only be
Tho result of misinformation. With the
appalling debt entailed by the recent Rus
sian war demanding a burden OF taNatioh
carried by every Industry and every toiler'
the Japanese are suffering from financial
s,enia that absolutely forbids war eN-
cent at the price Of risking the existence
of the empire.
Burdened With Taxes.
Every military and naval expert IN the
Far East knows that the Anglo-Japanese
agreement alone prevents Russia from
taking advantage Of Japanese condiuons
to retrieve her lost prestige
There is not a single citizen OF the en-
pire who is not carrying crushing bur
den OF taxation.
A pitiable example of the desperate
straits Of the government is found IN the
heavy taxing of the unfortunate women
citizens of the Yoko-Warria, the govern
nent licensing resorts found in Japanese
cities. The majority OF these unfortunates
are the widows Of Japanese soldiers Nhed
IN the Russian war, who instead OF being
nensioned, were licensed TO lead lives OF
shame.
Nearly every sen obtained by these wo-
wen is mulcted from them by the govern
ment which is desperately attempting 10
maintain a perfect military establishment
In Financial straights.
II is the concensus of opinion OF those
who have studied the financial crisis OF
the Japanese with the knowledge that the
financial markets OF the world have re-
fused to make any additional loans tha'
Japan at present could not conduct war
lasting three months. The most optimistc c
estimates set the date that the empire
oonid safely engage I'm a conflict with a
arsf-class power at fifteen years
rne rapanese fleet. except for the au-
t,,rnn review. is not engaging In any man.
euvers. owing to the exhausted fund and
~ save the cost Of coal all ships are
lighted with oil lamps. Every official e&'
meets that the expiration Of the Anglo
Japanese agreement viii be. followed by
another struggle with Russia and the
os, dasnerate means viii be employed
,o prepare the nation for the struggle.
n is generally admitted that owing tC
the bitter opposition Of the British col
onies. England viii not renew its present
alliance. Even the militant classes tacitls
admit that an attempted war at this time
would result in the empire being set bach
"a half century in the realization Of th'
rational ambition to be the dominant
pover in the Far East
There is no doubt that If japan was II
such an exhausted state the present woul'
be the most dangerous time TO engage in :
struggle with the United states for thu
mastery Of the Pacific, struggle whicl
is certain to come.
THO very existence Of the empire is th'
only condition which would force JapaI
to take recourse to arms at this time.