Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-05-01
THE FAR EAST PROBLEM

Japan is said to be making and more imperative
demands upon China This is of interest OF the country
because of a rapidly developing commerce with the
orient and the fact that the Philippine islands still
main in our possession contiguous to the japanese and
Chinese empires. No man can say what the ultimate
results of the great war are going to be on the politics OF
the orient But while this is true there is more tnan one
reason to believe that after all the cards are shued and
dealt out in the inevitable peace conference after SETTLE
ments have been agreed upon and the great nations geC
down to the practical work of rebuilding where they are
now destroying the fate of the far east for peace or war
for veal or Woe will rest most largely IN the hands or
Japan, the United States and Russia.
In this connection, letter. written by K. X KaWa"
kami and published in the New York Times is oil special
interest because explains Japans position and her In
tentons toward China the substance of which is that
because the United States opened closed Japan to the
world japan was forced to learn western methods, ana
this makes an increased necessary for her to carry
on her part Of the worlds work. that the United States
should be esopped from protesting considering California
land laws which he holds are violation Of the treaty
between the United States and Japan, He insists that
Japan must have place in the sum- and that as the
western nations will make place for her. she is forced
to seek the in China, but does not intend to
reduce in the least the sovereignty Of that power lie
explains that now having taken Kau-Chan from Ger
many to restore that province to China would simply
result in the retaking it by some European power later
He insists that Japan is fulfilling all her obligations in
Manchuria and is making it much more valuable to China
than it formerly was and is moreover preventing Its
absorption by Russia
Again he explains how much better it will be for China
when her latent great resources shall have been developed
by Japan.
From all of which we infer that the army which Japan
has been waiting to have grow up, since the war with
Russia is about ready to take the field and she is cor
respondingly asserting herself
There We're many reasons why Japan had to be
opened 1t not safe for merchant ships to sail by her
coasts and if ship in distress entered of her ports
itmeant coniscat0n
Japan took Manchuria and Corea in the Russo
Japanese and agreed to get out as affairs
settled They never have been, never WILL unless
some great future war; makes Japans longer stay I'M
possible
This writer complains of the California land laws.
They absolute necessity for without them the aps
would absorb the state the sparoWS have about
driven the song birds out of some sections while ii
would be impossible for Americans to get lands in Japan
or to make living from them, could they obtain them
If this letter means anything it means in plain Eng
lish Owe intend to take all ChnaS valuable resources
and all her trade After that is secured we will not care
how many foreign ships enter Chinese ports. They will
have to sail away without cargoes We want our place in
the sun no matter at what angle may shine And what
are you going to do about it?"
1t is also significant that the war has not at all dimn
ished Russas restless activity in the far easthe latest
dispatches bring news of new industrial and financial
undertakings in Mongolia and it is just possible that an
explanation of Japans eageness to act Immediately in
some decisive way on the Asian mainland is inspired by
this persistent Russian pressure.
There is great field here for constructive American
diplomacy. better feeling is growing up between the
more influential elements in Russia and the people OF
this country which indicates that Russia might be in
cned to listen to suggestions from Washington properly
put in preservation of mutual interests in the orenta
commercial field This presupposes of course practical
acquescence in our policy of definite stand in defence
OF the preservation of China There is no doubt what