The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27

Tallen deep into the bad graces of England and
France. Remained only the possibility of that al
lance with Germany and Russia which was splen-
didly to rehabilitate their international position.
And then two events of extraordinary import
played havoc with their plans, Knocked out the
supports of the structure they had been building.
First, Russia famed up into revolution, and the
world heard of the sequestration of the car and
the downfall of his vicious and reactionary grand
ducal circle. Where now was the plunderbund?
A liberalzed Russia, it was true, might make q
separate peace with Germany, but it would never
lend itself to the aggressive schemes so dear to the
hearts, and so profitable to the pockets, of au-
tocracies.
Looking Toward Peace.
Second, the United States severed relations
with Germany, and then, in quick succession,
declared war, passed a CONSUMPTION law, made
huge appropriations and set seriously about the
business of building up an army and a navy COM
mensurate with its size and Importance. If any
hope of German victory, and of a final rapproacn-
ment between Germany and Japan had been left
to the calculating statesmen of the mfSado, it
went glimmering when the United States ranged
itself on the side of Germany's enemies.
They looked forward to the day of peace, but
now they know it could never be a day of Teuton
triumph. They asked themselves what position
Japan would find at the council board of the ma
tons. She had protted from the war, she is not
so poor as she has been, and yet she is still a poor
nation. The swift growth of her teeming pOpula-
uOn means q cry TOT room, more room. Wnere(
In China, of course. Yet experience has shown
that the individual Japanese laborer cannot COM
pete on equal terms with the Chinese. If the gov
eminent of Japan is allowed its way In China
this condition can be remedied-and it must be, say
the japanese, for the alternative is revolution at
home at some time In the future.
In this perpleXity, where was Japan to turn?
She has turned to the United States. Can her
mission persuade America that Japanese inten-
tons in China are not selfish or lmperialistic?
Can the Washington government be brought to
see the dire need for a certain freedom of Japan
csc action in Gilman Finally, can Japan look for
ward, on that day of the great peace conference,
to finding at least one powerful and sympathetic
friend? If not, the outlook is dark indeed.
First and foremost, then, above and beyond all,
the mission from Japan to America comes In
quest of friendship. Japan needs the sympathy
and the support of the United States more today
than she needs anything In the world.
And she should have friendship-if she shows
by acts which support her words that she realizes
and will live up to the obligations of that friend
ship. These obligations are incompatible with the
carrying out Of purely lmperialistic designs in
China, with deliberate and selfish aggresslveness,
with the patent ilIiberality of her designs In the
far East. In short, japan must mend her ways
If she is to hope for American sympathy and sup
port.
Her Interest In China.
There is no reason why the peculiar situation
of Japan In relation to China should not be ad-
mitted by Washington. There is no reason why
Japan should not find the outlet she so sorely
needs to effect her economic salvation, and at the
same time bring immense benefit to China. All
this can be done honestly, frankly, In fglr and
open competition with the other nations Of the
world, for Japan has tremendous advantages in
her geographical position. to say nothing of a COM
mon script and Of a hundred minor matters. But
she cannot expect the United States to help her II
she seeks salvation by means of aggression and in
tlmidation, and she cannot expect the United
States to stand tamely by and see these Aethods
used.
For sixteen years America has been the cham
pion of the policy Of the open door, which seeks
to secure equality Of opportunity in Chlns's mar
kets to all nations. Yet It is curious that. In what