The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-16
THE JAPANESE PROBLEM.

Stirring events nearer home have kept
our attention so occupied that we have
almost forgotten that there is such thing
as the Far East.
Yet it would be we'll for US to devote
more attention to our Eastern problem and
not forget entirely the warnings of certain
of our statesmen against Japan.
That Japan is slowly but surely closing
the open door in China against American
manufacturers, is becoming apparent every
day, despite the official denials of the
Mikado.
Taking advantage of the European war,
Japanese squadron of warships crossed
the Yellow sea and drove the Germans
from their free port of Kiao-Chau. But
Japan, though she has an offensive and de-
fensive treaty with England, did not prose-
cute her war against England's enemy fur
Their; Japan's interests lay only in expelling
the Teuton from China in order that Japan
may have more untrammelled opportuni-
ties
To describe the underground diplomacy
of Japan of the past two years, and the de-
vious methods its craftsmanship has sought
to discredit the government of China with
It's people and provoke disturbance in order
that it might have an excuse to intervene
would require several books The Liaoyen
incident in Mongolia last August, is an
Illustration This district was subject to
bandit raids, and despite the warning of the
Chinese authorities, Japanese residents
would not leave. On the morning of the
18th, during an argument between some
Chinese soldiers and Japanese merchants,
a company of japanese soldiers came up
and fired on the Chinese garrison, who re-
turned the fire, with about ten killed and
wounded on each side. The Japanese cap
tured the Chinese magistrate and certain
prominent Chinese merchants and held
them prisoners. Japan was the aggressor
ali the way through, and used the incident
as a pretext for making certain demands,
the granting of which would have reduced
Chinese autonnly in South Manchuria and
Eastern Mongolia to mere mummery.
Those demands included besides the pun
ishment of the Chinese officers, an indem-
nifty and an apology to Japan, the recogni-
ton of special interests" for Japan in
Mongolia and Manchuria, comprising
powers of police and administration, pref
ences in loans, and in the selection of al
lOiCiSn dQVloClS, SlS- y IHdkc the weapon
against Chinese sovereignty doubly deadly
all Chinese schools and colleges were to
have military inspectors, and the Chinese
army in South Manchuria and Eastern
Mongolia were to employ japanese mill
tary advisers.
A protest by our government has helpec
1 to clear the situation, and the crisis fol
China, thanks to the constructive states
rnanship of DR.. Chen Chin-tao, Minister o.
Finance, in stabalizing the finances of the
country, is over for the time being. but
China at best is at the foot of an inter
national volcano. The Japanese design.
are none the less certain, even if Japan. no
ready yet to force the issue, did postpon,
their contamination
Where japanese influence has prevailed
it is notorious. that the American China
American trade has languished and died
The American shipping in the Pacific ha
fallen off greatly during the past two years
while Japanese shipping has increased t.
ffty-fve per cent of the total Japanes
shipyards are now SO occupied with turnins
out Japanese ships that no foreign oredr
are being accepted at all.
Our own shipping is in the meantime in
creasing, not only in the Atlantic, but il
the Pacific. 1t is not probable that OH