Evening journal., 1914-09-16


ders.
At this time Japan did not expect
to be called upon to aid England for
at least few months. But on Au-
gust Z the British Ambassador sud
denly asked for an interview with
Baron Kato and told the Foreign
Minister that the situation had devel-
oped in such manner as to oblige
England to ask for Japan's assist
ance without delay. On the evening
of that day Premier Okuma re-
Guested the "elder statesmen" and
his colleagues to assemble at his
mansion The conference lasted
until two O'Clock the next morning.
Before it adjourned Japan's policy
was definitely formulated.
What caused Downing Street to
invite Japan's cooperation so soon
Is not clearly known to the outside
world. But the Japanese press is in
all probability right when It says
trat Japan and England were obliged
to act promptly in order TO Illustrate
the German scheme to transfer Kiau-
Chau to the Chinese Government be-
I fore Germany was compelled to sur
render il at the point of the sword.
/ Had Germany succeeded in carrying
out this scheme she would still have
i enjoyed. in virtue of Article Of the
Kiau-Chau convention OF 1898. the
privilege at some future time "a
more suitable territory" in China.
! This was exactly the condition which
/ the allies did not want TO see estab
lished in China. If, on the other
! hand. Germany were forced to aban-
/ don Kiau-Chau by the arbitrament Of
the sword. China would no longer
be under obligation to "code to Ger
many a more suitable place"
This was, ] think, what persuaded
Japan and England TO act promptly
IN the Far East. In the meantime a
German cruiser, ignoring the rights
of a neutral state. captured a Rus
sian steamer within Japanese juris-
diction; a British gunboat. chased
by another German cruiser, fled into
q port only a hundred miles west OF
Toxic; a number OF British mer-
chant vessels were either captured
or chased by German warships while
q few Japanese ships we're also in
! tercepted by German cruisers. These
activities of the German squadron
were interpreted by Japan and Eng
land as disturbance to general
peace" in the Far East and TO the
special interests" Of the two coun-
tries in said region.
The second point. that Japan has
territorial ambition. is easily dis
posed Of In proposing to restore
Kiau-Chau to China. Japan is not
sctuated by altruistic motives but
by motives Of self-interest Not that
she wants to ingratiate herself with
China but because she thinks her
interests and safety can be best pro-
tected by preserving the territorial
integrity of China"
Japan's strength lies in her isola-
ted position. widely separated from
the aggressive countries of the west
AS England is trying to avoid the
bruntOf German aggressiveness by
upholding the independence and in
tegrity of the Netherlands, so Japan
is anxious to maintain the territorial
: integrity of China, making it a sort
, Of buffer state. This cherished aim
, Of Japan has been partly frustrated
/ because OF German and Russian en-
crOachments upon China. To pro-
tect her existence and safety against
the designs of such ambitious powers
Japan was compelled to occupy
: Korea and Port Arthur. thus making
her territory contiguous to that of
Russia. Today japan feels more
) fOrcibly than ever the disadvantage
of having such an aggressive nation
, as Russia as her neighbor. and she
does not want to see another ambi-
tious power establish Itself upon Chi
nese soil.
: This is the reason Japan does not
wish to occupy Kiau-Chau or any
} other section Of China The logic is
/ clear. Should Japan occupy Kiau-
Chau permanently, other Powers
b would surely follow Japan's suit and
D. slice up for themselves large por-
tions of Chinese territory. Should
this come to pass, the powerful ma
D tions of the West would become
, Japan's immediate neighbors, thus
] inevitably weakening her naturally
strong position. This means a lar.
ger army and a more powerful navy
with proportionately heavier burden
! Of taxation. No sane Japanese car
fail to see that the game is not wortl
the candle. It is only by maintain,
ing the territorial integrity of China
that Japan can enjoy peace and de
vote her energies to the promotion
Of the arts of peace.
The third point. that Japan wants
to get even" with Germany, con
tains much truth Obviously, JapaI
| has not forgotten the lessons which
| Germany taught her, and she think
that the present is the opportunl
moment to return Germanys cour
tesy Considering Germany's provo
cative attitude towards Japan durinl
the past twenty long years. who cal
blame the Japanese? Japan sin
cerely believes that Germany is
disturbing element in the Far Eas
and a constant menace to her safety
Most Americans know how tn
Kaiser treated the MikadO at tn
end Of the Chino-Japanese war whicl
cost Japan a hundred thousand live
and a billion yen. Few, however
know that Germany's interference
= with the Chino-Japanese peace term
vas only the first of the many un
Al PLEASANT experiences which Japai
has had with Germany.
The Germans today are diligentl
telling the public what enormou
sums the Berlin Government has ex
pended for the upbuilding of Kiau
chow, but compared with the sacri
fee Japan offered upon the altar q
Port Arthur, German expenditure o
Kiau-chow sinks into insignificanc'
Germany ousted Japan from POI
Arthur because she wanted to Civ
/.