The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-18

q, from ffve years to three The ~
program 10 truly American r. Tt
Ia very big. One OF its reasons -
fear Of . japanese invasion 90
necessity Of making the Pacific - E
as powerful as the Atlantic, 49,
from the uncertain degree Of mobe
conferred by the Panama Canal
japanese naval expansion has ho9I1H
ed to call this anxiety into being. -
though the Chugwai Shogyo repe
that Japan's naval program has n0<
| ing to do with the invasion Of Am9eS&
lea, 1t admits that from the Amer1cq
point Of view Japanese naval expa
sion may have the appearance Of $3.50
| ing intended for aggression. II JApoz
should in turn regard the United Dta4G|
program as directed against JapqM3
mutual suspicion will grow into 4M
nightmare, the paper continues. a&6#
situation will be created similar 90
that which existed between EnGjan0
and Germany. s5
This will be very detrimental" g.
paper comments. America II F1c1
while We are not. and It will b -
possible for US to compete" Nh
1t goes on to point out that IN IT,
past Japan's armament programs hAN4T
worked out badly, as for Instance t.
increase OF the army last year ~
two divisions directed against Rua1M
| and now seen to be az useless ~ th4a
| Great Wall OF China on account ~:
the Russo-Japanese alliance.
Would 1t not be better, the Artioaq
concludes, for Japan to avoid be4n4'
scared by American preparations and
| to conclude q Japan-Amerfcan co0.s
vention in order to secure the peacea
OF the world?
| The Kokumin article 10 writteo ~
the editor Of that paper. Tokutoni4
a Christian. a wel1-known man Of 1o1e
tiers. a member of the House Of Poor6k
and an intimate friend OF CouA
Terauchi, the leader Of bureAucra41es
influences in Japan. He has been a.
cuSsfng America q great deal OF lm6kS
and his conclusion that Japan mWm&7
increase her armed strength follOW35
his conviction that the Americans atqH
not a peaceful nation. 3S
| He points out that the cry for ne
tional preparedness forms almost ~!
! sole issue Of the American presidenf44&S
election. The enthusiasm for armim91
the nation has been aroused part4xa
by the European war. but It =
great mistake to suppose that Annasss
can preparedness is directed only
against England and Germany. IN
matter how much Americans may.
speak Of tho Atlantic, their hearts ar15
filled with the Pacific problem. as
I'VE do not mean to say" he sUG6s
on, that America IL arousing puhl)4s
opinion with q view to the conquoo&'
| OF Japan. We do not live in the 49,
Of Perry. and the United States may
not send q big fleet to present d.
mands. but II Americans take fanoys
they can easily find methods to breakE
our patience and challenge Japan I'll
q fight.
I'VE do not say they have that
fancy Just now. but II they thoughk1
they could drive Japan out OF the pn~s
cific, would they hold their big feet
in check and watch with their fingers
in their mouthsr
| America in her naval policy NJ
continues, commenced a few years
ago to increase speed. Her plan ~
building large destroyers, large su15
marines and powerful supply shipS
proves that America 10 seeking q ar
tant enemy. Can you call that d18
lfensfvo plan? he asks. "America
preparing even now to cross the TIT
; cific Ocean with her big fleet" R
asserts. He declares he has no ~
feeling against the United StaAeaL
america IN the richest nation 10
day" he says, land II Amerfca ntS
japan are to maintain navies OF oQuG15
strength. 1t will cause no uneadnaa4
to America. but 1t will be q grsafs
annoyance to Japan. which IL poor
If Japanese national existence ID fua
! question that annoyance must be en-.
| dured."