New-York tribune., 1920-08-15
Japan Admits Errors i'm Corea,
But Is Improving Conditions
Nipponese See That One Mistake More Serious Than
Military Measures, Was Failure to Get Into Spirit
ual Harmony With the People, Says Vanderlip

Japan itself was profoundly shocked
when she at last had forced on her at.
tention by outsiders a full understand.
ing of how bad the military admins.
tration had been. She had been rathe,
we'll satisfied with the evidences OF
material improvement that had taker
place under her domination, and, hold
on the whole q rather just contempt
she had given little or no consideration
to their feelings.
She therefore stood abashed and
ashamed when Western civilization be-
gan to formulate its charges of brutal
rule.
Her concern reached such pitch
that she had recourse to the most i'm
portant step possible under her polt-
cal system. There was an imperial
mandate issued which commanded bet
ter things.
The military governor was recalled,
and about year ago civil governme mt
replaced the military regime. 1t is
true that the new civil governor had
been a military officer, but even the
sharpest critics of Japan agree that he
is man of high purpose. and that the
actual results of his administration
arc bearing out the promises of re-
form.
Japan frankly admits that she re-
grets deeply that there is true foun-
dation for much of the criticism that
has been leveled against her on ac-
count Of her Corean administration.
Her best people are frankly ashamed
of this chapter, but they point with
solid assurance to the reforms that
have been instituted and to the re-
vision of the national policy, which has
pacifcation of the Coreans. While we
were in Toxic there was celebrated
the marriage of the Corean Crown
Prince to Japanese princess. AS a
part of the celebration attending the
ceremony, several thousand Corean
prisoners were liberated.
Japan Admits Errors
While Japan admits her errors in
respect to her Corean policy, and is
making amends now by an admins
tration which even her critics com.
mend, she is inclined to indicate that
after all, it is not a typical inter
national question.
National shortcomings measured ir
the light of Western moral ideals arc
humiliating to Japan, because she pro.
fesses her greatest ambition is te
bring the nation squarely up to the
best Of Western ideals. But, after all
this matter of Corean administration
was on the whole an internal matter
In discussing it the Japanese viii
frankly admit the errors of their ad
ministration. but they are inclined tc
counter with references to our treat
ment of the negro. They have at hant
cases in point. They are familiar
with some of our shortcuts in the
administration of justice. They have
seen pictures of negroes being burned
and hanged and shot. They are
familiar with race riots in Chicago
and elsewhere and they say that while
these incidents are regrettable they dc
not offer opportunity for Japan to in.
terfere in our domestic affairs; anc
then they ask that we have just 6
little tolerance with some of thei,
own shortcomings, particularly in view
OF the earnest effort they are making
to improve their administration in
Corea.
Material Conditions Improved
In view of the restraint exercised
by the government Of Great Britain
in the face of our Senatorial and other
suggestions concerning Ireland, it per.
maps was not surprising to find that
we encountered no word of protest in
Japan against the fact that there is
maintained in Washington a so-callee
"Corean legation" and that at many
points throughout the United States
there are being formed at the present
moment organizations known as the
Friends of Corea," whose object is
the independence of that country.
Few of the members of those organi.
cations have any practical understand
ing of the suhiect. Their sentiman,