New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-14
Future Of Japan
Must Be Based on
Chinese Friendship
Toxic Professor Rejects Idea of
Proposed Asiatic Monroe
Doctrine

Washington. March 13.-Japan is consider.
ing how she will be able to secure a superb,
position among the world powers after tbs
conclusion Of peace. DR.. Yoshino, a profes.
sor in the Toxic Imperial University. in an
article published in the Yokohama Boyeki.a
translated b. the japanese Chronicle" dis
cusses Japan's commercial preparedness,
against the business competition in the Far
East that is certain TO follow the war IN
Europe. lie says, in part;
1.-THE first question to be considered /,
when will the japanese nation be brougk,
face to face with the business competition o,
the European powers? II is not conceivable
that this competition will be forced on JanaD
as soon as the present war comes 10 an end
but at the same tre it is a mistake for the
japanese to remain off their guard in the
meantime. They ought to be constantly AZ.
tending to necessary preparations to NEE,
that competition
"ln conjunction with the development o.
Americas influence we must not lose sight o,
the fact that owing to the European war lhs
Monroe Doctrine has been firmly established
in South and North America, and that con-
sequently the European powers, even after
recovering their national strength, will be
unable to effect any further development Of
their influence in the American continent,
than they attained before the war. thus com.
pelling them to turn their exclusive attention
TO the East.
"The effect this will have on the Ess, Is
clear on the face Of it. The East will be the
scene Of still kcencr economic rivalry among
the world powers after the war than existed
in ante bcllum days. How will Japan be able
TO secure superior position among these
competitive powers?
"The japanese may be superior to Western
nations in their military strength, but what.
ever superiority they may claim in this re-
spect it is quite obvious that they carno,
fight the whole Of the European powers. To
begin with. Japan is not provided with sIf.
cient war materials. the first requisite for
carrying on war. nor is she possessed OF
enough money TO purchase these goods As
regards her capacity for carrying on peaceful
industrial competition, she is found wanting
in many respects The only advantage she
can lay claim to in entering such competition
in the Fast is that she is situated in the
East If this advantage is fully utilized
and cooperation with the Eastern races Is
successfully effected. the future Of Japans
peaceable development is very bright
No Basis for Race Prejudice
"The Asiatic Monroe Doctrine. which has
recently been propagated by some japanese
with much warmth. is apt to appeal to many
minds because o. its foundation on ideals Of
racial prejudice, which are very attractive
with the masses but in reality it is theory
unworthy of serious attention The advo.
Gates Of the doctrine often speak Of the
alleged natural hostility between the white
and yellow races.
1T is true that instances of racial preiu-
dices are met with everywhere, but they are
special phenomena arising from special cir.
cumstanccs a posteriori. These races are by
10 means bound to be hostile 10 each other
The so-called racial conflicts observed ever.
where in the present day are not so much On
account of racial differences as because q
religious, political and social differences
They have no deeper basis than the troub..
of various forms that constantly arise be.
tween peoples OF the same race.
$50 long as the japanese and the Chinese
do not take the initiative in flaming the
sparks of racial enmty, there will be a con.
plete absence of such sentiments between
European residents and themselves Cone.
Quently there is no occasion for propagating
the Asiatic Monroe Doctrine.
True. the British residents in China make
abusive remarks against Japan. but this is
case OF two of trade, not because Of racial
prejudice. for they raise no resentful voice
against the Chinese. Il is, therefore futile
to attempt to effect cooperation with the
Chinese ON tho basis Of the Asiatic Monroe
Doctrine or on the empty talk Of Sino-Japa.
rese friendship. Some more efficient method
must be devised for attaining that end In.
fortunately Japan has hitherto strayed from
the rghtful path in dealing with China, and
IN consequence the latter has turned her back
upon Japan, showing an inclination TO 30 to
Westerners rather than to the japanese for
advice and assistance
This is a regrettable state of things for
the Chinese as well as ourselves, for II
China were TO be allied to any highly de-
veloped foreign power, she runs the risk Of
completely FORGETTING the opportunity to self
exertion. ch may eliminate in her making
herself the economic slave of such a power
From Japan's standpoint there are prscii-
cally no bright prospects for the future Of
japanese commerce and industries unless she
succeeds in enlisting Chna's cooperation. II
she fails in this, Japan's economic position
will be completely ruined"