The Washington times., 1915-05-07
THE WORLDS OTHER HALF

Half the world has been at war
for several months past; the other
half is having increasing difficulty
keeping out. The maelstrom has a
fascinating attraction.
The Japanese government Is at
war with the German government;
but since the single operation OF sig
nificance that fell to China's lot, the
conflict has been merely nominal.
The Japanese people have not been
at war in any real sense with the
German people. China, with some
thing like a third the worlds popu-
lation, has been at peace.
But japan is forcing the issue
with China, and there is every indi-
cation that it will be war or else
China's unqualified surrender of her
real independence. No grave doubt
need be entertained as to the real
inwardness of the Japanese attitude
The European war provided Tokyo
with the opportunity for which she
had been waiting. She is seizing it.
That is about all that need be said.
If not now, then at some time in
future; if not by reason of the en-
broilment of all Europe, then for
some other reason, japan has count
ed on getting her chance. She has
everything in her favor, is deter
mined to bide her time and take the
opportunity whenever it may pre-
sent; for she is on the ground, in
more intimate neighborship and
touch with China than any other
country is; she is kin in race and
language. She feels that these con-
ditions give her rights in China su-
perior to the rights of others; as
suredly they give her opportunities
and of these she is availing herself.
1t is scarcely to be assumed that
the people of the United States
would wish their Government to as
sumo a guardianship of China tha'
would involve this country in a wa
or the grave danger Of war. On tn
other hand, however, it is to be said
in all earnestness that the American
people decidedly do believe that their
Government ought to be able to en-
ploy its good offices in preventing
any serious infliction upon China
That is a diplomatic task most ap'
propriate for the United States tc
assume. 1t is one in which the for.
eign Offices of most of the world coulc
be expected to manifest an inter.
est and to extend a proper co-opera'
ton. Japan, even though the rest Of
the world might be for the time pre-
occupied, would hardly wish to iso'
late herself from the good opinion
of the world. 1t will be a most re-
grettable failure to employ the most
effective methods which this country
possesses, if Japan shall not be
brought to realize that she is taking
a step that ultimately must injure
her in the good opinion Of the world
So far as the commercial outcome
is concerned, it is not at all certain
that the United States has anything
to lose by Japanese domination OF
China. On the contrary it is prob.
able that American trade in the east
would be increased faster in a Japan.
dominated China than in China as il
is now. Japan has perhaps one
eighth the population of China, yet
Japan is three times as good Gus.
toner Of the United States as il
China. China's awakening, its de-
sire to know and its demand to be
supplied with the products of the
Occident, would proceed vastly fast
er under Japanese leadership thar
under none, and there is practically
none in the Chinese administration
Of today.
But there is more involved in this
matter than mere marketing oppor'
tunities for our products. China il
the oldest nation m the world sc
far as We know; in territorial re-
sources is not improbably the rich,
est. She has lately shown a disposi
ton to take on modern habits OF
thought and conduct. 1t has moi
been slow progress, but rather ar
impressively rapid one, that she hal
made in two generations just past
1t looks slow to us, mainly because
inevitably We contrast it with the
marvel of Japanese advance. But
that is not altogether fair.
China's people, as the students OF
the east now realize, are essential,
democratic. Their local institutions
are of that character, just as are
those of the Slavs. China has sci
her face toward institutional devel
opment and progress, and it is moi
desirable that, with four hundreds
of millions of people in her domin
ion, she should be made the vassa
of any other power; yet less desir