The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-04-23
Ok,.,sad o. Ldpda, IH China

iahus III Shlia, 90 the JAPANESE PiShWeit Nouii
Okuna, OUT anuses any diplomat before the worl'
today. The cures, issue Of the Saturday Even
ing Host contains the latest interview with Coun
okuma, from the ben of Samuel g. Blythe, il
which the veteran democrat of Japan reiterates il
language as direct as English can be made tn
that Japan IS not DESTROYS of anything
from China which conflicts with the status Of tn
Asiatic Republic as self-governing state or which
threatens the treaty rights of other powers
The Japanese premier does claim, however, tina
the geographical position Of japan in relation 4
China gives the former trade advantages which ar
TO be developed to the utmost, but emphasizes tina
these advantages are geographic and chronological
and not political 'tl$ss
Asked by Mr.. Blythe whether Japan did not re
gard itself as the natural mediator between Eas
and West. Count Okuma said
Il Is my opinion that Japan is and must be the
natural mediator between. the East and the West;
aud for these reasons There Is always a place
Japan i that place. 4 Thousand years ago the
Japanese an island people, began 70 get the bene
ats @ Chinese elsillzatloS; And later there came
adapted ourselves 20 4 still later--twO or three
; hundred years ago the West began 70 come to
sna WITH S j.. Japan fS began
Now then, IL IA the common impression that all
higher civilization comes from the West Assum-
&
naturalization, coming, east, stopped in Japan
just MS Eastern eiviliEation, coming west, stopped
point. We have assimilstsa and are discriminating
Western civilization. We have assimiated East n
erne civilization. We are the meeting point for
the East and the West; and though we course, n
not Western, have in measure the West
ern view. as,lalso we have the Eastern view
wherefore. as the higher eiyilization- =, i i
eonsdered--eomes from the West, and has come
and stopped in Japan, as IL did stop, then IL is
our place to extend that Western civilization TO
experiences and ednsa.iOn we are best fitted 70
do. Behind us is the teeming East and before us
is the progressive West East meets West in us;
and IL Is place, locomotive II, TO be the med
ator between the two--for, understanding both,
we know the needs and the capabilities Of each
Outlining Japan's general attitude toward Chin
after disclaimi;g intention on the part OF Japa
to inaugurate Monroe Doctrine" for the Orier
or to advance thes'' Asia for Asiatics' cause, ii
Premier said; si [ss zE y
No nation can, remain at N commercial stand.
still Every nation must progress or retrograde,
3" 50 far M, commences Is concerned. We have now
reached = point il ,JaPsn where we feel that the
ourselves Of the tremendous advantages offered to
us BY the vast territory of China; and we also
feel that we are peculiarly fitted for commercial
dealings with that nation. - = & ~, Z
There is no disposition on, the part Of japan tor
e. e % c"s ssane. 4 any
nation that may secure trsde with China. Our
position is that ussitks Japanese, peculiarly q
With China; that we have certain natural adyan-,
, tages; and that it s:due by ourselves, that
shall secure the fullest measure Of return for
those advantages. In other words, do not pro-
test If other nations shall secure, what they
Il entitled to- and expect them to do so; but We for
our part, intend to have what we are entitled to,
", China falls natprally within tie commercial
sphere of Japans Ifepeat that We have no de.
and no plans for closing the open door; but GER
tain phases of our relations with China have long
been left in an indeterminate situation owing TO
this is right and proper time TO establish per-
snenty our own position there and to insist on
owing to our natural advantages.
e. Our trade with China is large and is constantly
growing. China e q neal. by customer and most
k desirable one We need outlets for our goods
and there is no outlet 50 conveniently situated and
no people with whom we can trade with greater
r. ease and satisfaction. OF course consider China
our particular province, but not in any territorial
sense. 1t is merely that we have o very good
customer, whom we understand and who under
stands us, living close to our place Of production.
Naturally and properlv wegintapA rot cuIv 10
suade that customer to buy much from us q
can induce him 70 bn. We intend to take e. every
selves and to expandeit wherever possible.
We not trying 10 stife composition; but we
are striving to make competition unRvailing by
fostering and building tupI that market and by
carefully Safeguarding rights and privileges
therein. We want ostsrritory in China. What
we want is trade in China<-that, and nothing
more; and that lis what we are endeavoring to
secure and maintain and expand. Pr A",.#.
Replying to a direct question OF the PROBABLE
or the possibility Of war between the United Stat
and Japan, the head Of the Japanese governme
was emphatic: d..
There never was war party in Japan. There
any real war sentiment in Japan. And
neither exists now If you win refresh your mem
Dry concerning this talk Of war, or If you will
examine into its ORIGIN, you will find that no
single phase or phrase Of it originated in Japan.
There never has been responsible agitation for
in this country--war between Japan and the
United States mean What there has been was
the echo of agitation and war talk that began in
your country. - ts,s#.iIF a.--% ,s4@.-(s W. 49,
How could there be war between Japan and the
United Statesf Your country will be the
aggressor and Japan never win be. What, then,
could or would start wari II you viii look into