The Washington times., 1915-04-29
IN US.
RESENTED BY JAPAN
War Between Two Countries
Would Only Produce Disaster
to Both, Says O. K. Davis.
Continued from First Page.)

full facts do not give It a sound founda-
ton. There are not enough Japanese
in, the United States, and there never
have been. to create any real economic
disturbance. The labor Of those who
are there has been readily employed
because II was to the advantage Of the
employer to secure It.
Undoubtedly many more japanese
would have gone to the United States II
II had not been for the so-called gem
tleman's agreement, under which jap
anese immigration has been practically
stopped.
The ambitious Japanese. who works
hard In this country for wages that by
the month do not total much more
than half what he would earn in the
United States in a week, Is naturally
inclined to regard America es a golden
opportunity. II emigration to the
States were unhampered many Japanese
would flock there, eager to earn the
sixty. seventy, or more gold dollars a
month that they could easily obtain.
Laborers At Home.
But the Japanese government recog-
nizes the importance OF keeping the
laborers at home. and that Is why It
has given its assent to the gentlema n 8
agreement. For. however 1t may be ig-
nored in America. the fact is recog-
nlZeu mere tIdt japan ueNelOpment
trends naturally not across the Pacific,
but into the adjacent territory on the
Asiatic mainland.
Furthermore. Japan's natural and ma
tional interest lies In Industrial expan-
sion. and for that she needs her laborers
at home.
1t Is to be remembemer that Japan
has a population OF more than $4,000, 900.
crowded into a territory about the size
OF the State OF Montana. II there was
,l,tlz N Axsn ~
can be readily believed that there
would be some moving out. But not
only are the Japanese already crowded
to the point where their population
averages about 1900 to the square mile.
II Is increasing by between COCOON and
100000 annually. by the excess of births
over deaths.
Must Be Outlet.
In other words. a situation Is pre-
sented for which there must be an
outlet. What Is that outlet to be?
Every once In a while somebody gets
up in the United States and cries aloud
that japan has designs on American
territory. Usually 1t is the Philippines,
but there are those who profess to be-
lieve that Japan would really like to
have big slice OF our Pacific coast.
and is actually contemplating the effort
TO take IL by force OF arms.
Such loose talk derives it's chief sup
port and acceptance from the fact that
Americans have undoubtedly given a
serious affront to the Japanese people.
There are not people anywhere more
self-satisfed nationally and more proud
racially than the Japanese. They are
extremely sensitive. and easily affront-
ed when their national egotlsm or racial
pride is touched And the Americans
have touched both. not once, but re-
peatedly.
Emphasizes Effect.
The afrront has been given with a
supercilious carlessness that has en-
phasized its effect and Importance.
Now I hold no brief for the japanese
and am not concerned In any way to de-
fend what they have done and are doing
But my acquaintance with their situa-
tion, which has extended over a number
of years. and my recent investigation of
their present condition. convirtces me
that talk about an attempt by them to
go across the Pacific Is all bosh. and
their economic interest lying close at
rome he was enunciating a simple truth
that has the greatest bearing upon the
question of the relations between the
that 1t will be of great advantage to
Americans generally to recognize.
! have no doubt that 1t would be
possible for Anne ricans. by continuing
to play upon the sentimentality Of
the Japanese to stir up an agitation
that would presently result in war
between the two countries. And that
despite the clear recognition by the
japanese government and leading
statesmen that their true economic
advantage is all against such a pro-
ceeding.
Would Produce Disaster.
1t would be war that could have
no possible advantage for either
country. and would produce only dis
aster and distress for both.
But unless americans come to n
realization OF the real situation. and
are willing to forego the amusement
of exciting Japanese sensibilities,
such result may easily beSbrought
about.
There ar" two courses which may
needed by the pressing population Of
Japan. Neither OF them lies in the
United States. Both are close at
home.
The leaders Of the Japanese know
perfectly well that there is absolute
y no prospect OF permanent relief for
them across the Pacific. They know
that even II the widest dreams Of
the author OF that fantastic efrusion.
'' Noioi " were 10
come true. and the Japanese were to
take slice of the Pacific coast OF
the United states. It would be only a
temporary lodEment. and disadvan-
taGeous at that. rather than advan-
tageous.
Count Okuma voiced the reason for
this. although he was not making
the application. when he spoke with
emphasis of the fact that the Japa-
ncse "arc not liked and are not
wanted" in America.
Expansion AS Relief.
One of these two outlets, the one
which will be first put to service. is ex-
pansion into the adjacent Asiatic main
land. And the effort to facilitate that
expansion Is the moving cause at the
bottom of the present negotiations
going on between the Japanese and Chi
nese governments.
The demands OF the japanese, when
they shall at length be made public,
will be found to deal entirely with mat
ters which they conceive to be neCes-
sary to the protection and DEVELOPMENT
of their intended enterprise in China.
The statesmen of Japan are deter
mined to secure for their people the
leading part In the commerce with
China Count Okuma frankly declared
that the Japanese have three natural
advantages over all competitors In the
contest for this trade
One OF these advantages, he said was
geographical. another political, and the
third racial 10 oil MI.