Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-02
HOW ABOUT IAPANp--VU
ny FREDERIC y HAs,

proceeded from lighting 4 war over
korea's autonomy In 1885, to swallow
ing the hapless kingdom herself . little
over decade later. She has also been
permitted to eetablish a virtual pro.
tectorate over Manchuria. and 70 turn
that rich region into Japanese trade
preserve. But her course must ind Its
limits somewhere.
Korea herself has become a Japanese
province. She is hardly 80 much q part
or Japan as vassal state. That In
clhent is closed But hAw far will
Japan proceed on these lines? Amer
lean business men hero believe that II
tho policy which Japan is now trying
TO impose on China succeeds. tho course
or events respecting other foreign trads
with China VIII be the same as has
occurred during Japanese occupation Of
Korea and Manchuria." SO says the
American Association of China, in a
pamphlet recently published. Therein
consists the really vital Significance Of
Korea: not in the American interests
driven from a field they explored and
developed, but in the fate Of tho i'm.
mcnscly greater American interests.
actual and potential. In China herself.
Already In the Shantung district, Just
seiEed from Germany. Japan 10 using
her former methods. There seems no
doubt as to what she will do IL un-
checked Remains only the question OF
who will check her
Mission Work Clouded.
The missionary situation in Korea
iB fundamentally different from that OF
trade and industry. The missionary
IL influenced by no considerations of
expectancy. He has to stick to his
post. whether the political administra-
tlon be favorable or no. American mis-
rionar!es in Korea are standing by
their work, but the future that ras
once the brightest In the Orient has
IA mi Of -,
When the Japanese took over Korea
Prince Ito. Governor-General OF the
province. announced in plain terms that
while foreign missionaries would be
urn olested SO long as they refrained
from any activities with a political
Significance, no such activities would
he tolerated. Such a position seems
just enough: but It is none the less
iatai in the long run. to the work OF
American missionaries.
The Koreans have now become citf.
zens OF the Japanese empire. Tho key
stone Of the Japanese scheme of do.
mestic government Ia an idea not no.
litical. but religious-the Idea Of en-
peror- divinity. Such an idea !s in.
compatible with the teachings Of tho
missionaries. By intoxicating the doc.
trines OF Christianity. they work
against the acceptance Of creed which
liz the corner-stono OF the Japaneue
state. Thus when Prince Ito said that
the missionaries would be unmolested
so long as their teachings were In no
way political. he made q statement that
sounded we'll and meant very little.
That his course was justified under the
circumstances is probably true but his
manner OF stating II deliberately OBJ.
scured the issue
The American missionaries have bsen
conducting themselves with great tact
and discretion under the Japanese
regime. and as a result their work ia
still going forward actively and sue
cessfully. But the fact cannot b.
blinked at. that Japanese annexation
spelled an enormous setback to tho
cause OF Christianity In Korea Wide.
spread Characterization Is incompatihie
with the Japanese theory OF govern.
ment.
In this case. as in the Question of
trade and industry. unfortunate Korea
is of interest chiefly as pertinent
warning, as the handwriting on the
wall. Her life as an autonomous. am.
pire Ia over. She is part of Japan. But
now Japan turns toward China, a land
infinitely richer and fuller of possI
bilities. where American merchants ana
American missionaries have a stakA
CORRESPONDENCE greater Through the
fog of diplomatic evasions and snoooth
promises which hangs over the sitna.
tlon. the form Of Korea looms solid ard
significant.