The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-09-20
JAPAN MUST HAVE OUTLET FOR HER
 SURPLUS PEOPLE
Population Increases At Rate of 100000 a
 Year.

London, Sept. 17.-In England or in America any discussion as to the future development of Japan seems inevitably, sooner or later, to turn
 to the racial question, or, rather. to one isolated phrase of that question. When the race problem is refererd
 to in connection with Japan. it is almost invariably simply the Labor problem that is meant. This phrase l is merely what we regard as an es- sential portion of the matter.
 The population of Japan is increas- ing at the rate of 60O.O0O a year, and, | as the country is already Overcrowded it is obvious that we must obtain some outlet for our surplus popula- ton. As a nation, however, we have absolutely no desire to interfere in | the domestic politics of any other country We would fierceIy resent any imputation of race inferiority but we frankly recognize that every country has a perfect right to order it's own affairs in it's own way. If organized labor in America objects | to the Japanese working in their country, we do not feel we have any cause for complaint. We do contend, however, that, apart from displacing 1 labor, we have the right to develop our future in our own way. So far as I know, no serious proposal has ever been made that the Japanese should be excluded from any coun- try simply because they were Japan | ese. That would be quite a different matter. The whole question has been confused by confounding the side line ! of labor with the fundamental prin- cipIe of race equality.
 Colonies Not Wanted.
 We Japanese do not wish to inter- fere with Capital and Labor in any 1 country We have had our own la ! bor troubles and cur food difficult ! ties in Japan, just as you had in Eng | land, as the recent race riots showed. ! On broad lines, I take it, American capitalists desire to employ Japanese
 labor, while American labor Is de- l termined that 1t shall not do so, and i for the present the latter view has ! !triumphed
 | Luckily for us the problem of ez- i pansion is not an immediate one. Korea and Formosa are both thinly 7 populated. and a great work of deveI- 1 1 task will absorb our energies for some l considerable time to come.
 Japan does not particularly want ] more colonies. We recognize that | all the available territory has already | been taken up. What we do desire, 1 however, is to be regarded as equal i competitors in the markets of the l world, and it is becG use of this that I ! emphasize the difference between 1 the general racial problem and the mere side line of cheap labor.
 Reverting to the labor aspect again ! for moment, I am convinced that | great fields of activity are open to | us, where there is no possibility of ] clashing with local prejudices. The value of labor is stadily being recog- ! nized. When South America comes ! to be really opened up, there will be
 an enormous demand for our men. ! Great industrial development has | taken place in Japan during the war. ! and wages have risen very materially, | though not to the extent as in Eng l land. Since the armistiCe some de- 1 pression has taken place, but this | is only a temporary phase, and when | conditions become settled again our | industrial prosperity will continue on l a scale Undreamed of before the war. | As our industries increase so, of l couse, will our powers of absorbing
 our own surplus population. Politi- caIly, events have been moving very | rapidly in Japan. Already there is | a very wide, movement for universal ! suffrage. On theoretical grounds | this innovation receives a large meas | ure of support, but. personally, I do l ha ff71na iC rfy Far | such a move. As it is our suffrage | which is based on a property basis. | has recently been greatly widened. 1 Our upper house has a majority of | hereditary noblemen, but, in addition | is certain number of scientists, au- ! thOrs, and civil servants to it on the
 nomination of the Crown
 The Democratic Movement.
 | The democratic movement is rnak- ing rapid progress. but do not think | that Socialism, as the term is under l stood in Europe, will ever make head
 way with us, through some adaptation | of the system to meet Oriental re- | quirements might prove popular The decisions come to by the Peace ! Conference are generally acceptable ! to Japanese ideals and ambitions. | The solution of the Kaio-Chau prob | lem, in particular, is very satisfac- | tory Our future development must ! of necessity, be very closely associa- ted with that of China, and 1t is our ! sincere desire to establish amicabIe ! relations, based on a mutual under | standing, with that country.
 ! In conclusion, I would say that the future of Japan should lie in coop eration with the nations which have ] been her Allies to the common de- velopment and advantage of all con cerned, and not in any narrow at