Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-16
The Asiatic Oyster
By Frederic j. Haskiu

Washington. ID. c., April l6.--So far as
,merirans have any idea of Asia Mt all,
thcy think of il as large, lazy, unorgan-
red country, which is being and always
has been exploited and developed by the
nations of Europe. The United states IS
nov urged To get into the game, too. In
word, ASIA is an oyster TO be opened by
the Western world.
II i also generally understood that the
npcning Of the oyster, and the eating OF
mart IL its substance, Is a boon TO the
nvster II cannot be denied that a great
Heal of Chinese wealth has departed west
Nard through the open door, but at the
sam, time. bibles railroads, missionaries,
smoking tobacco. plumbing and n great
many other putativc benefits have gone
IA by the same route. Likewise the figures
SEEM l. prove conclusively that Great
Rritain has been taking wealth out of
India ever since the days of the East
India Company and carrying il to Great
Britein But in return the English have
supplied India with railroads, irrigation
work. and many other accessories of in
dti>trlal civilization.
\ third assumption which seems to be
generally accepted IS that the Asiatics
are satisfied with this order Of things, are
grateful fur the enlightenment, the ma
chincry and the capital which the western
nations have brought TO them.
rHE OYSTER OBJECTS
Thi, la,t assumption does not seem 10
stand up ls we'll 10 used to. \ great
mni,v rrccnt expressions can bC found by
lsiatIcs. and some 10y Europeans. IN
dicating that the islatlcs are not grateful
tn the Europeans for what they have done,
and that Asia for the AsiatIcs IS
slogan which ls carried ~ many hearts
and may Nct BE- heard on many tongues
The question j. beng raised, N a word,
whether the western nations ought not TO
take the AslatIc viewpoint more INTO ac-
,otut Ought We not 60 find out whether
thcv want tie KIND OF treatment We arc
giving them. and ii they do not. should not
we calculate how much it may cost Us ia
blood and treasure 20 make them take it,
Tins new poInt-0f-vlew Is ably eN-
pressed bv II NJ. Hvndman. n British
,nurnalist who has had much experience
an the Orient lIIs book amounts to an
,xprcssIon of the belief that while the
great powers are calmly dividing Asia into
snhcrcs uf influence and mandates. get
ting ready t. exploit her natural resources
"a growing resentment against this course
ls illing the minds of the Asiatics them
selves. They are. hc intimatcs, IN the
mood 20 demand that We 1--we up to our
prctensions about assuring to all peoples
the right OF elf-dctermination.
BRITISH RULE MAKES INDIA POOR.
Hyndman makes special study of |
India. He asserts that the Indians do not |
generally bclcvc that they have been
benefited by British rule. Ever since the |
DAYS Of the East India Company, Great |
Britain has drained wealth from India !
She has brought to India the appliances Of |
industrial civilization in return, but these |
have not made the Indians richer. They |
have made the Indians poorer. They |
have not served to avert a number of
severe famines. And the Indians in gem
eral do not cherish or adapt themselves to
the British brand of civilization. They
prefer their own, which is a much older
one. and in some respects perhaps slI-
perior. Hyndman presents great deal e