New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-05
4 Liberal Policy Best for Japan
An Abandonment of Eycupcnes China and Establishment Of INC
Open Door Urged Upon Her Diplomats

futility and harmfulness, even to Japan
herself, Of the course which she, Ike o.nei
great powers. has pursued. The chief him
drancs 10 the economic advancement Oh
japan herself is the poverty OF the CONT
rent 70 which she belongs, and especially
the poverty OF China, which is, after all
because of its poverty, poor market ~
should be Japan's chief market. Inc
traders, the artisans, the technical eHperts'
the consuming public of Japan, will proht
most not by the continued poverty but by
the growing wealth of China. They VIII
profit, therefore, by any agency, whatever
it's national source, that adds to the pro-
ductve force, the wealth, the purchasing
power Of the Chinese.
The Doctrine Of Freedom
No achievements Of diplomacy in exclud-
ing rivals from the Asiatic mainland, no
recognition BIZ the world of paramount
claims, could bring to japan benefits so
vast as a policy Of inclusiveness, Of en-
enlargement to British, French, Russian,
German and Belgian, as soon as their
circumstances will permit, to share, and
by sharing to augment, the oTportuni-
ties which China offers. SO every com
munity profits by the creation within it Of
any great productive force-the discovery
Of new mineral wealth, the influx OF new
capital, the invention Of a great mechani-
cal device japan and China are united IN
their economic fortunes one community
the enrichment of one is the enrichment
Of both. 1t is difficult to overestimate the
advantage which Japan would derive from
an economic development Of China for
which all possible aid, from all quarters Of
the earth, would be scanty enough. Imagine
that the japanese islands were lifted up
and set down of the western coast Of Eu-
rope, thus entering a commercial community
with product and, therefore, purchasing
power per man five to ten times that of the
Chinese. There can be no doubt that with
in few years the national income Of Japan
would he increased by a very great per-
centage-perhaps % or 30 per cent-as a
result of the new opportunities which this
new situation would create. That fortunate
situation Japan can approach just so far as
the adjacent portions Of Asia can be made
to approach the wealth of Europe by the
utmost possible influx Of dollars. yen,
rubles, francs, marks and pounds sterling.
This doctrine of freedom in international
investment and trade-justifed by these
consderations-fairlyr represents, We believe,
the firm sentiment of our nation. We
earnestly hope that this doctrine may come
to be acceptable TO our friends in Japan.
Otherwise we fear that for many years we
shall hardly avoid frequent and, perhaps,
perilous disputes and mistrust. In the
midst of the present festivities, and express
sions of mutual regard it is, perhaps, best
to discuss somewhat freely this difference
between US, which polite diplomat might
prefer TO keep out of sight and by frank
discussion TO contribute something toward
reaching an agreement in our doctrines and
a harmony in our policies, so that our eX-
pressions of mutual regard may in time
come to be all the more cordial from being
unclouded by any uneasy anticipations.
A. P. WINSTON.
New York, Sept. /, 1917.