The Washington times., 1915-04-28


northwest, p. M
After the Boxer outbreak in 1900 Japan,
Great Britain. and other nations Joined
with the United States in support OF the
principle of the open door, equal oppor-
tunity, and the maintenance of the in
tegrity Of China. Then came the Rus
sian advance in Manchuria.
Japan Joined with the United states,
Great Britain, and other nations In pro-
testing against what Russia was doing
there but Japan was the only nation
that went so far as to resist by force.
After the war with Russia Japan natur-
ally occupied strong position III Man
churia.
There have been complaints, espe-
Cially loud and numerous from America
that the actions Of Japan in Manchuria
we're closing the door and destroying
the principle OF equal opportunity. But
these complaints are not we'll founded.
There has been nothing discriminatory
in what Japan has done In Manchuria:
The citizens of all nations are treated
alike and American merchants and
business men have exactly the same OPP
portunities that Japanese have. They
can do exactly as the Japanese do II
they so desire.
u. S. Too Far Away.
ct think the great difficulty has been
that Americans are too far from the
scene Of operations, and they have not
desired to give the time and attention
to business in detail In Manchuria
which Is necessary to obtain success
there. Citizens of other countries were
successful there, and especially Ger
mans.
"The English and the Germans Sc
cured good information from Manchuria
through their consular and other agents,
but I think the Americans have not de-
voted the same effort and energy, and,
therefore. have not progressed as salts
factorily. The Germans. in particular,
have developed their trade materially.
These complaints about the Man
churian situation have been gradually
dying down. and the conditions there
are Improving. II Americans have lost
trade in Manchuria 1t has been due to
the causes l have explained and not to
the fact that the opportunity is not
equal to them or that the door has been
closed
Il hope that time will ultimately solve
this problem also to the satisfaction of
all concerned.
Expects Improvement.
with these two disturbing causes
the immigration and Manchurian ques-
tions-out of the way there should be
a material Improvement in the rela-
tions between the United States ana
Japan There is no real ground for
apprehension. no real cause for alarm.
Japans economic interests lie close at
home, and that fact is we'll understood
here. The United states is our best
customer and Japan is a good custo-
mer of the United States.
Trade Is in its infancy. china is
great market. with great possibilities
OF development. 1t is important that
Japan should develop her trade with
| China, and for that japan has certain
| natural advantages There is a geo
| graphical. political. and racial SINH
larlty of interests.
THE Americans must expect to meet
competition in developing their trade
in China. just as they always have
| met competition in developing trade
everywhere. even at home.
Friction Natural.
1T is natural that competition should
develop some friction. 1t always does.
1t does that between American and
British. between Americans and Ger
| mans. and even between Americans
themselves. just as we'll as between
Americans and Japanese.
The rivalry and even friction from
such competition is always to be eX
| peCted and cannot be avoided. otherwise
there would be room for but one people
Oh the earth. If such competition is
met in China the Americans must not
be nervous about 1t or make complaints.
They must make efforts to meet II and
to extend their trade in competition with
all the others there, just as the others
do.
Japan's interest Is to maintain the
open door. equal opportunities for all
and the maintenance of Chinese integ-
rlty. Japan's great need Is economic
advancement. The development Of trade
with the United States would he OF
great advantage to both countries.
There Is great room for improvement
in this direction,
Development In Infancy.
"Japan's industrial development Is In
It's infancy There has been consider
able advance in the last few years, but
| there is still room for much greater ad-
vance. We have few factories in ia
pan. and almost all of them are small
| There are no great manufacturing in
dustries such as you are familiar with
| in the United States and such as exist
in Germany or England
In this respect Germany affords a
good example to Japan A few years
ago she was sending emigrants to the
| United States and to South America.
| Her people were crowded at home and
| increasing rapidly in number. There
was not room for them in agricultural
pursuits. They had to go abroad to
| tnd relief.
Then came the new era of domestic
| industrial development. Germany made
She needed her men at home. and there
| was opportunity for them there. The
! outlet for the press OF population was
found In the development Of industries.