The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-10-25
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fallen deep into the bad graces of England and
France. Remained only the possibility OF that nj
lance with Germany and Russia which splen
didly to rehablitate 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 and
the downfall Of his vicious and reactonary grand
ducal circle. Where now the plunderbund? ?
liberazed Russia 1t was true. might make a
separate peace with Germany but It would never
lend Itself to the aggressive schemes dear to the
hearts, and 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 conscrptiOn law, made
huge appropriations and set seriously about the
business Of building up an army and IA navy CON-
mensurate with Its size and Importance. any
hope Of German victory, and of final rapprOach-
ment between Germany and Japan had been left
to the calculating statesmen OF the mikado, 1t
went glimmering when the United States ranged
itself on the side of Germany's enemies.
They looked forward to the day Of peace but
they know 1t could never be day of TeutOn
triumph. They asked themselves what position
Japan would find at the council board of the
tons. She had profited from the war, she Is not
poor she has been, and yet she is still poor
nation. The swift growth of her teeming pOpula
ton means a cry for room, more room Where?
In China of course. Yet experience has shown
that the individual japanese laborer cannot com
pete equal terms with the Chinese. If the gov
ernment of Japan is allowed its way in China
this condition can be remedied-and 1t must be- say
the japanese, for the alternative is revolution
home at some time in the future.
In this perplexity, where Japan to turn?
She has turned to the United States. Can her
mission persuade America that Japanese inten
tions in China not selfish or imperialstic?
Can the Washington government be brought to
the dire need for certain freedom OF Japan
action in China? 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-f 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 nggressiveness,
with the patent iberality of her designs in the
far East. In short. Japan must mend her ways
If she Ia 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
mtted by Washington. There is why
Japan should not find the outlet she sorely
needs to effect her economic salvation, and at the
same tine bring immense benefit to China. All
this can be done honestly, frankly, in fair and
open competition with the other nations of the
world, for Japan has tremendous advantages in
her geographical, position 10 say nothing OF n COIN
script and of hundred minor matters. But
she cannot expect the United States to help her if
she seeks salvation by means of aggression and in
tlmidation. and she cannot expect the United
States to stand tamely by and see these methods
used.
For sixteen years America has been the cham
pon of the policy of the open door, which seeks
to secure equality of opportunity in China's
to all nations. Yet 1t is curious that in what