Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1916-03-09
IF JAPAN WHIPPED US,
WHAT OF PEACE TERMS,

In connection with the question of
national preparedness, the tinlsiy adj
monition is made by the New Repub-
lie that "the time has come for the
country to make up its mind what
policy it means to defend"
If we purpose to continue the Mon
roe doctrine, greater preparedness
will be needed, it thinks, than if we
ditch it. Ii also we are to stand up
for John Hays doctrine of the "open
door" in China, still greater prepar-
edness will be NEEDED. If we make up
our minds to throw both doctrines in
the discard, very moderate prepar-
edness, it thinks, will be enough for
our safety, for these are potential
sources Of friction with Germany on
the one hand and with Japan on the
opposing side.
''In other Words says the journal,
what we are preparing to defend is
not our territory, but national pol
| iy in Latin America. Let the United
States abandon all pretensions in thisl
hemisphere outside its boundaries; i'll
will be as safe from Germany as
Greenland is.
Policy Toward Japan.
"The same searching of mind is
needed in our relations to Japan.
We are in conflict with Japan over
two main issues exclusion in Cali
foinia and the open door in the far
east Neither can be allowed to rest
underlined. Are we or are we not
Inning to challenge Japanese donfinn-
iion in the orient? If we are not
The japanese problem loses most Of
is gravity. Japan viii not fight us
merely to secure admission for her
coolie labor. But if VIC are con-
cerned about the fate of China, if
the new navy is designed to give
weight to American diplomacy in the
east, then the sooner our people re
alize it the better"
To this point the New Republics
thesis is mainly sound. Its argument
is defective when it passes to the
contention that invasion of this coun-
Try by the armed forces of an enemy
would be followed by light and easily
borne penalties. Does any one sup
pose" it questions, "that Germany
would care to conquer and admins
ter the continental territory of the
ir,,f+od C+o4aso u ,,,c,,,tJ l.. ~. ,.,4-;
truitless adventure a nation ever I'M
lertook, and the absurdity of it is
evident when we realize that even If
she Germans in this waA could take
London they would evacuste it again,
II the Germans captured London or
New York it would not be for the
aake of holding it, but in order to
change certain British or American
policies to which they object"
Could Impose Heavy Penalties.
But this takes on note of the price
that would be demanded for evacua-
sion-the indemnity that conquer
ing and occupying army would exact
from a country so rich in wealth and
potential resources. Nothing is more
certain than that Germany or Japan,
once it had the bayonet at our ma
tional throat, would demand indem-
nifty that would stagger this country
in its payment.
Conquering Japan would go fur
ther than Germany. 1t could cap a
stupendous war indemnity with a
demand, for example, for the cession
Of Alaska. Alaska is substantially
wild and appropriated 1t is rich in
gold, copper and coal, products essen
tial to Japan's realization of world
empire and national prosperity. Its
fisheries could feed the Japanese nas
! tion for all time. With Alaska ceded
Japan could easily evict the few
thousand Americans now in the ter
ritory, and become the possessor of
an undeveloped empire far greater
in area than the present day Japan.
With these prizes in view war
indemnity that would instantly enrich
impoverished Japan and II prospect Of
taking over the wealth of Alaska for
all time-it would be folly for the
American people to assume that Jap
an would be incapable of picking a
quarrel with them over the issue of
Japanese exclusion, Japanese land
tenure in the Pacific coast states
and the admission of japanese to our
public schools.
Prudent Nation
Must Pay.
To "chuck" the Monroe doctrine and
forget the open door in China, as the
New Republic says, would tend to re-
lieve future tension and greatly min
imize the risk of war with Germany
and Japan. But on what indication
I'LL