Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-04

WASHINGTON. d. c., July 3l-Be-
tween Japan and the United Slates
to-day lie two great pnsolved ptob-
lens. They are the problem Of DON
fictins Pacific policies and the prob
lem Of immigration.
We are too prone 10 regard these
questions Il" settled, as soon as they
drop out OF sight for a fcw weeks or
a few months. They arc as far from
being settled to-day as they ever were.
More than that. they are continually
adding TO their vitality and Importance
with the passage or time.
Alons- with the many disadvantages
attaching to III. coutraliztng Of power
in The hands OF a small group OF men.
japan has derived one compcnsatiug
benefit from the system. She has gain
ed consistent foreign policy. Her
statesmen have never lost sight OF
tho two great issues that face their
empire. They have withdrawn those
issues from notice at times. when cir
curnstanCcs seemed unfavorable. but
they have :cycr FOR a moment for
gotten them. They never relax their
Efforts TO put Japan in the most IA
vorahle position 10 meet them when
the t'mt comes.
These issues viii come 10 the front
sEain, beyond the shadow Of "A doubt.
They are 80 real and fundamental that
they viii! ur!sc OF their own vitality
sooner or later, and Japan stands ready
10 "aise them as soon as che think.
the TINE has come TO do so with adj
vantage
J,ra,. has steadily pursued her two
foll foreign policy. Her objects are
the opening Of IA road for her people
To "rnigrat" to the Occidcnt. and the
extension "f her power in Asia. with
view 10 ultimate dominance of the
Orient. y, The time Of the sudden out
break OF the European War. She had
been dcvotinC her attention to the mat
tor OF emigration. With the war came
an unexpectedly perfect opportunity TO
iurti.er her otl or aim. tho domination
OF China. and she hastily turned TO
avail herself of H.
Under cover OF INC world conflict
she cXtortcd concessions from China
that she nigh. never have gained 9TH
erwise. II IS no wonder that she let
the migration question lapse for the
moment. To regard that question
therefore, AS settled. to imagine that
she has let it lapse for good. would
he the height of short-sighted folly
Every sign points to Il renewal OF the
dispute on the part OF Japan in the
near future.
Heal Issue Obsrurcd.
The Immigration question has been
50 thoroughly discussed that " seems
Unnecessary TO review II. Yet tn very
richness of the comment and argument
poured forth on the matter has con-
tribut.d largely toward buryinK the
fundamental ISSUE at stake. The mass
OF the discussion has concerned itself
with superficial aspects OF the stu
a;ior. until the real conflict OF inter
est. POLICY and principle has been al
most lost TO sight.
Japanese emigration to the Occidcnt
SO far is only the ripple before the
With J1DauS DOnuluttOn IN
crcusing ut the rate Of almost 1900
600 n year. with the spreading OF Oc-
cidental methods of sanitation and Oc-
cidental ideas OF the value OF life
promising TO augment that increase
greatly AZ time passes. it Is obvious
that the $4,000 Japanese now in the
United States can have no real effect
on the problem one way or the other
The case OF the Japanese I'm Cali
fornia is in Itself Il real issue In
Japan. Japanese national pride Is
very real and sensitive thing. The
California question itself VIII arise
again. Japan dropped the negotiations
over the antialien land bills with the
express stipulation of resuminS them
when she got ready. The geutlcmen's
agrcemcnt, by which Japan volun,ar-
lily excludes her laborcrs from the Pa
cihc Coast, and to which she has ad-
hcrcd with exemplary faithfulncss. Is
still source Of continual irritation
to many elements in Japan, as Il study
OF the Japanese press will show. The
time and study devoted to the Cali
fornia question, the mas" Of evidence
and argument printed concerning IT..
all apply to an important International
deadlock. The bulk Of II does not APP
ply TO the great underlying problem
| at all
Looking for q Solution.
The question has been discussed with
view to finding solution which
! should meet tho wishes OF both parties
| Americans of the Pacific Coast have
| plainly stated their wishes. They do
not want stream of Japanese labor.
| The Japanese have shown Il Willingness
| to meet the American viewpoint on
| this angle, at least temporarily. They
have Voluntarily limited their emit
! grafton. They demand In return, how
ever. that America should respect their
national pride. Thus I'm looking for n
solution of the conflict. investigate s
have tried to find scheme which
| should at once exclude the Japanese
without insulting them.
typical device to this end is the
| system which would amend all our
| emigration laws so that the immgra n 8
| admitted would bear some definite pro-
| portion to, those already here. Under
| this arrangement, tho people of any
| nation which forms n largo element In
| our population would be admitted ms
| freely as ever. because those who want
/ to come in are only very small frac,