Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-02

Korea has double interest for Amer.
lea. In the frst place. the tragic irony
OF the whole Korean incident gives a
hint OF what may be expected from
japan In other quarters. In the second
place, Korea was the scene Of Americas
greatest Asiatic achievement. both In
commercial development and in the
work OF missionaries
In all the Orient, Korea was the one
field where American trade exceeded
that of any other nation. Americans
were opening the mines, handling mu-
nicipal Improvement projects-such as
electric lighting. waterworks and street
railways-getting the lions share OF
trade. They did these things In open
competition with anybody who cared to
compete, winning their advantage sole
~ by superior enterprise and manage
ment. Many OF their projects were
undertaken with the outcome seriouBly
In doubt; they put their money and
their energy into new and untried
field. They built. for instance. the first
railroad in Korea. They were the pho.
neers OF industry In the Hermit King
dom. They took long chances and
they were beginning to reap the re.
balance of power threw Korea into the
hands OF Japan.
no less conspicuous than the success
OF American industry in Korea was
the success of American missionary
work. The Christian religion took a
nrmer hold in the kingdom than in any
country where il had been spread
among people of different creed In
recent times Almost 100000 Koreans
were converted. Close to 1000 schools
and churches were established The
whole nation seemed in fair way to
be Christianizcd. While there are mis-
sioparies OF all nations In Korea. the
bulk Of the work was done by Amer
leans.
After solemnly guaranteeing the in
dependence and autonomy OF Korea in
the preambles to several different in
ternational agreements. Japan pres
entity established a protectorate. II
was obvious from the first that an
neXation would follow sooner or later.
but American interests were not par
ticularly disturbed by the prospect 1t
was expected that Japan would elimI-
nate any foreign enterprise In Korea
which had been founded with political
intention-foundcd, that is, by the ma
tionals of Some European power with
tho idea of giving that power foot
hold on tho coast of Asia. AS Amer
lean interests had nothing whatever of
the political about them. as the United
States obviously never dreamed of
establishing herself In Korea as "A ma
tion 1t was taken for granted that
Americans would be unmolested. Their
work. while undertaken in purely
business attitude, with no philanthropic
motives. was none the less OF immense
value TO the development and enrich
ment OF the kingdom.
FnlIscy Soon Showed.
However. 1t soon became apparent
that there was fallacy In this reason
ing somewhere. Japan set systemati-
cally TO work TO drive foreigners from
Korean commerce and industry. She
wished, apparently. to secure Japanese
dominance in the field. and here. as
elsewhere. she had to deal with the "a d
fact that Japanese could not dominate
while Western enterprise had an equal
chance. II was necessary to turn Korea
into q Japanese preserve.
The most important foreign interests
in Korea were in the hands of a single
American firm. Japan's course in the
case of this firm was typical She Of
fered to buy the Americans out. The
Americans refused to sell. They had
spent years in establishing themselves,
and old not care to retire just as they
had weathcred the doubtful stage and
were beginning to take profits. The
| Japanese then set out to obetruct and
II.
| ing titles were disputed. Their enter.
priscs were subjected to unfair COM
petition. as in the case of a telephone
| company. for which they had secured
| an exclusive franchise. The Japanese
calmly. set up competing company.
| The past records of the members Of
the American firm were searched in an
| attempt to uncover discreditable facts.
| although the company was 80 long
| established that 1t amounted to an in
| stitution, and no one had questioned It's
| integrity before.
In spite Of this campaign. which was
| long and expensive enough to have
| broken smaller corporation, the Amer.
leans kept on fighting. They fought
| from Seoul and Tokyo TO Washington
| and back again. Finally they sold out.
| AS business proposition, the game
was obviously not worth the candle.
| Facing Japanese opposition, backed I'm
| by Japanese officials. the business could
not be run at profit. However dear
| might be the principles involved, az
1 business men the Americans had no
T, alternative but to bow to the inevi-
table and withdraw.
Nation Needs to Expand.
The incident illustrates the CONNER
| cial policy Of Japan In tho countries
| tional need for commercial expansion.
She realizes that free competition
would be fatal. She is willing to pur-
chase foreign interests at price, but
II they refuse to withdraw gracefully,
they will be made to withdraw tin.
gracefully Japan has tho justification
Of certain hecessity---a justification
that is being stretched to cover good
| deal nowadays That Europe and
| America recognized her Justification Is
shown by the way they have stood
aside while Japan, In contraventton Of
: international agreements ana policy,