Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-13
How About Japan
X--Our Turn To Play.
BY Frederic Y. Haskin

De-" X--Our Turn To Play.
Washington, D. c., July 10. Why IL
Japan straining all her resources IN the
building of battleships today? Why
has she increased her army by two d.
visions, with the prospect Of further
increases in the near future? ~, s.s
Long ago the European experts
pointed the impregnability OF Japan's
domestic position. No nation on earth
can even threaten her supremacy In
far eastern waters, with the sole ex-
ception Of her ally, Great Britain. Her
home territory is absolutely unassail.
able, in the words of the experts. by
any power or combination OF powers"
Yet she appropriates one hundred mil
lion dollars toward carrying out her
nava! program. Yet she increases her
army. .@#.-@
OF all first class nations, japan cap
afford such expenditures least. Her
taxes are already staggeringly heavy
they have been increased six times IN
the last twenty years. She has no
wealth OF natural resource to draw on.
Life for her congested population Is a
far sharper struggle than In the occi-
dent, even without the added burden
OF a great militar1sm. 1t Is inconceiv'
able that nation in such circum-
stances would plunge into reckless mil
itary expenditures without some i'm
mediate and definite purpose In view.
In the case Of Japan, that purpose can
not be home defence. She has more
than enough already. ..,
A consideration of world affairs to.
day has shown how Japan and Ameri-
ca stand out as the leading figures In
the field of the Pacific. It has shown
how Americas interests and principles
force her to stand in the way or pol
icies to which Japan is driven by ma
tional necessity. ..
Yet Japan's militarism does not nee
essarily mean war. Militarism has 9TH
er uses. Japan is believer in the doc.
trine of force, in the principle that a
nations position and influence are de-
pendent on its military strength. Her
beliefs are the natural fruit of her own
experience. When she was weak, she
was a toy in the hands Of Europe. Her
very import duties we're set for her by
foreign nations The spoils Of the
Chino-Japanese war were snatched
from her at the moment Of victory be-
cause she was powerless to resist.
Then she became strong. As her own
statesmen point out, her real influence
dates from the day Of her strength.
Backed by the prestige of her victory
over Russia. by the fact that Europe
knew the strength Of her army and
navy and their efficiency, she became q
world power, the dominant figure OF
the orient. She allied herself on equal
terms with the worlds greatest naval
power, Great Britain. Unopposed, she
annexed Korea. Unopposed she DOM
mates Manchuria Unopposed she has
wrenched from defenceless China set
of unjust concessions. 1t is no won
der she believes in the value OF great
army and navy. 49,: -
:. Now her, policy is on, the eve Of run
ming counter, to the policies OF tho
United States. Her probable course In
China is clearly indicated by her past
course in Korea and Manchuria. Sucn
a course will result In the cutting on
of American commerce and industry
from the immense Chinese field, at a
time when that field is more valuable
than ever before to our expanding IN
dustrial development.
Japan needs the Chinese market
and she proposes to take 1t. More than
that, she proposes to use the United
States as her means OF reaping It's
benefits. Unable to cope with the task
of developing China alone, she wants
to do the work by employing the nm
ancial strength of the United States
American capital will be forced to ap-
ply itself through Japanese channels
if it Is to be applied at ALL Japan -
compelling China to put the rights or
entry and development into Japanese
hands. The open door is being turned
into a toll gate with Japan behind the
wicket.
The question is not only one OF dol
lars It is not primarily one of dollars.
It ia primarily a question Of principle,
and in that question, America stands
for the right. This country today is
nassing through an acute revulslon
from a former weakness for sell nat-
tery. The soul searchings raised oy
the great war have punctured gooo
MANY bubbles Of national egotism. But
our Chinese record bears the test. we
stand in China for square deai-Just
treatment for Chinese, for Japanese,
for Europeans, for Americans; falr
field and no favors. We are asserting
the fundamental principles of our re-
and our democracy. There
is more than money at stake in China.
Ianan has also the problem OF her
surplus population to deal with; Her
chosen outlet for that population IS
across the Pacific. Her stumbling block
ia the Monroe doctrine. r.
Her ends are not confined to ques-
tons of expediency alone. She has
h,gh ideals in the matter of her des.
tiny. She believes that she is the chos-
an mediator between east and west.
Alone among eastern nations she mas
assimilated western culture and wes-
tern civilization without for moment
losing her oriental individuality. She
was the first of eastern nations to van
ouish a western foe. Her blows at
Russia put new complexion on the