Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-09-29
PREPARING FOR WAR.


crossed the Chinese waters of the Vel
low sea and occupied the German
free port OF Kiao-Chau
Japan was at war with Germany
so her act was justifiable.
Since then we have heard nothing
of Japan's activities in the great war
Only
The report comes that Japanese
shipping has advanced these two
years, from 80 to IS per cent Of the
total on the Pacific, while the United
States has experienced a decrease
from q to 2 per cent of the tota
trans-Paciic shipping! That is Jap
anese preparedness-economic pre-
paredness.
Japan is looking toward China. Hel
latest step has been the occupation OF
Kiao.C hau, not considering her later
agreement with Russia as regards
Manchuria. Colonization is Japan's
big idea, but not for the present IN
China.
For that Japan looks toward the
western hemisphere. Central and
South America, and even the United
States, are .Japan's hope for entry,
for the great migration and the great
economic expansion. That, before
China, is the goal.
Listen to Thomas F. Willard, former
editor of the China Press (Shanghai)
and author of several books on Chi.
nese and Japanese questions, in his
latest volume, "Our Eastern Ques.
tion," published by the Century com.
pany:
Japanese craftsmanship has come
to believe that, in the order of doing,
esta blishment of the undisputed
equality of Japanese on the western
hemisphere should take precedence
Of Japan's completion of her domino
ton of China :"
So Japan prepares. for she sees a
break ahead There's that Monroe
doctrine, that one stumbling block
which Japan is trying as best she can
to nullify in the eyes of the world.
She begins by her insistence upon the
fright" Of her people to live here
just as do Italians, Germans and 9th.
er European peoples. She has that
grievance ever before her, actuating
her further toward the satisfaction of
her ambitions.
Millard tells what Japan is doing
to attain her goal of economic expan.
sion in the western hemisphere, fol.
lowed by domination of affairs in
China:
Japan is making deliberate prep.
arations in anticipation, if not actu.
ally in expectation, of a collision with
the United States.
Japanese propaganda in
America has almost succeeded in lull.
ing that nation into a false security,
and has exerted an influence to pre-.
vent and retard measures to prepare
the United States against an armed
clash.
1.-THE fate of China, the stability Of
the Monroe doctrine, the balance OF
power in the Pacific ocean, and
whether yellow peril ever will be.
come reality. are questions included
in the outcome of the relations OF
Japan and the United States.
r "The great European war destroy.
ed the international balance of power
in the Far East, creating a condition
which enabled Japan to disturb that
region, and by reaction also to men.
ace the peace Of America.
constructive action by the United
States is required to help re-create
that balance of power"
That constructive action is prep.
aration, not only naval, but CONNER.
cial. Commercial development must
continue in the Pacific so long as we
have our Philippines, our Hawaiian
islands and our Monroe doctrine.
For. lacking the trade, we shall lose
in foreign prestige and strength, and
shall be surpassed by our competitors.
Japan is acting. 1t is not naval in
crease that she is producing. That
takes care of itself almost automat.
ically. 1t is foreign trade develop.
ment, which she hopes will be the
forerunner of foreign expansion and,
perhaps, colonization.
Japan has a "Weltpolitik," Just as
surely as Germany has one. OF the
two. the one to be watched more
keenly by the United States is that
Of Japan.