New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-22
PERFIDIOUS JAPAN
She Hampers Chinese and Works
Against the Open Door"

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In recent issue The Tribune pub
lshed a lengthy article by DR.. T. Iyenaga,
Director of the West and East News Blu
reau, in regard TO Chinese-Japanese relations.
The whole article IS misleading II the doc
tors statement that "the policy Of Japan
toward China is no other than to cement the
bond of amity and friendship between the two
countries" were true, China would have be
come a strong country to-day.
Had the japanese statesmen been gifted
with the ability to see but little into the
future they would have won. by honest means,
position in China that could be gained by
no other country. Instead Of following. that
wise policy Japan has treated China with
brutal efFrontery and has animated the Chi
nese with a sentiment Of dislike and distrust.
Dr. Iyenagas further statement that Japan
policy does not in the least run counter 70
that of America is untrue.
Sixteen years ago John Hay adopted "the
open door in China" policy, and the United
States government has ever since reasserted
it at intervals. In converting Fukien and
Shantung almost into a japanese sphere of
influence, South Manchuria and Eastern Mon
golia nearly into japanese provinces, and By
the endeavor to gain for herself the exclusive
privileges for the brutal exploitation of the
other parts OF China Japan deties this Amer
lean policy Not content with her full share
in the increased trade that the progressive
policy of the Chinese government is creating,
Japan has gone so far as to procure more
political influence, by hook and crook, with
he intention Of ichng from Americans and
Europeans the trade they have already estab-
.ished.
Foreseeing that this aggressive policy Of
Japan will eventually render the principle of
equal opportunity imperative, China spares
no effort TO open her door and invite foreign
capital to develop her natural resources. But
Japan always stands in the way. When
China, two years ago, negotiated with the
Standard Oil Company of New York 20 de-
velop her petroleum resources Japan tried
20 stop the negotiations. When China planned
70 engage famous Swiss expert TO re-
organize her police force Japan used every
means 20 break the engagement. When the
Hanyeh Ping Iron Works could sell thousands
Of tons of pig iron to the United States, with
the object OF preventing such expectation
Japan demanded she be taken in as a partner.
Whenever China wanted TO build a railway
japan insisted she should finance IT, although
she has had to borrow money from Europe.
The good doctor would certainly deny
Japan is so ambitious, but other japanese
pubicists are quite candid on this point.
They say she has practically decided TO en-
bark upon a system of territorial aggrandize-
ment, with the ultimate object of ousting all
r A.. a. -. 4
once pointed out TO me that If the Chinese
with their vast numbers and immense re-
sources, would place themselves under the
control OF the Japanese not only would they
keep China for the Chinese but they would
become so strong that many adjacent terri
tories would fall into their hands.
In 1914 the Chinese government proposed
the revision Of the customs tariff. with the
intention OF improving her financial resources
and developing her domestic industry. Al
though the other powers were in favor Of the
proposal, Japan was strongly opposed TO it..
In 1911 Japan threw her weight on the side
of the revolutionists, but when the revolu-
tionists were about 70 realize their ambition
she sounded England regarding the advisa-
biity OF lending the lettering Manchu house
armed assistance "A proposal which the
British government Immediately vetoed. At
the same time the Japanese official press
voiced their approval OF the proposal 70 es-
tablish republic in China, but when the
republic was actually established they repre-
scented II as an institution that would be
dangerous to the monarchical governments in
Asia. and particularly dangerous TO Japan.
In view of the persistent effort made by
Japan 20 prevent China from becoming strong.
il Is certainly absurd for DR.. Iyenaga 70 in
sinuate that for the sake of China the Anglo
japanese alliance was made and the Russo
Japanese War and the Germsn-J Japanese
War were waged. The doctor must have
known that the Anglo-Jspansss alliance saved