Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1920-06-13
JAPAN ADMITS KOREAN bLUNDER;
DIDN'T SENSE SPIRITUAL NEED
Copyright 1920. Newspaper Enterprise
Aau,,l.tlnp
~ HARRY T.. BENEDICT.


business associate Of Frank 4. Van.
derIip. and secretary ~ the American
delegation 90 the - nofficial Conference
an Japanese.i american Affairs" nj To.
kiol
Korea has been a testing ground Tor
Japanese colonization In Asia Japan
has learned through some bitter cXpc
ri"nccs valuable lessons In colonial al.
minislrntion. Historically. Korea his
been governed over long period 10y
weak aud corrupt courts When Japan
took over Korea ~ "A prize of the RUSS"
Japanc'c war. she acquired territory
almost equal tn that ~ her main island
n territory backward IN evidences ct
modern commercial and industrial prog
rcss. with no central government that
could control its 10 0OO0 600 people. AMI
with n traditional disposition To revolt
against organized authority This. prac.
tically japnu's first experience In gov.
orninH a foreign people, was indeed q
task o. tot the powers II nations old IN
the administration ~ colonial empire.
Are Trying "a Better Korean Conditions
Charges IT gross brutality of harsh,
unfolding, aggressive military domin'
alton are made against Jupin's admin
ir,ration In Korea.
This subject was discussed with the
Nanderlip party with a frankness that
gave the American guests clear II
hasty picture 81 Japln's difficulties In
governing the peninsula.
Since the annexation ~ Korea" sail
l'nron Sakainni 1--WE have taken every
step In our power % better the con
dition Of the people We have cared
for and improved the railroads, We have
built roads. and We have organized u
school system We have rofurestel
what were but barren mountains Kor
80 has made great material progress
under the japanese supervision Of the
PAST few years"
Japanese Admit They Made MISTAKES
His next statement is tremendously
significant, II seems 10 me, Of an as
rcct of Japanese development far more
important than the Korean situation
II Indicates comprehension Of the
necessities ~ a spiritual growth IN their
leaders which will have vastly greater
effect on the worlds judgment Of Jap
ans rising power In the Far East than
viii mere commercial and industrial
efficiency.
'Of COURSE we have made mistakes.
We admit that" continued the baron.
we paid too much attention 20 the
material progress vt the people and not
enough attention Ia their moral prob
lens and development We did not
have a true conception of the social
and spiritual responsibilities II our task
We neglected to win the Koreans sym.
pathetic understanding II our aSpira'
tons Tor them and their country"
Tho military authorities In Korea had
given governmer. that apparently
was ~ had az most reports would have
II. 4 true knowledge Of these cOndi.
tons. however when finally brought
with considerable emphasis Ia the a,tcn.
tion Of the Japanese government 10y
missionaries and others seemed to have
given the Japanese themselves some.
thing vt shock.
Trouble hue o. Racial Differences.
We believe our administration IN
Korea Is now all that you would desire.
said our hosts among them Niscouni
Kancko Baron Mcga,s aud Baron sab
atani. all men who have devoted much
of their public careers To- Korean ut.
fairs "Rut." they admuuishcd, re
member that there will continue 10 To-
disturbances and difficulties and prob.
lens there. II YOU ash Korean I h.
is cnntcn,rd with our administration,
he viii hc emphatic In his ncgation."
This. the Japanese explain with u
keen perception II the social aspects uf
their problem. comes from the bias at
racial differences The same situation
exists In measure in Egypt British
India. Ireland, IN the Philippines, AMI
other places Whvrr the governed are ut
q different race only time the Jap
ancsc believe. viii remedy this racial
antagunsm.
Japans plea nov IL for tolerance and
fairness In Judging the sincerity 81 their
reform.
Troops tscd Only 10 Guard Railroads.
what uf Manchurin and Muusuia
These IN many respects present similar
problems tn Japan Manchuria has h..
come something of u hy.wutd IN Amer.
tea without. | fear very clear conccp
ton at what relation It bears to Japan.
The future IT the Manchurian railways
~ the question with which Japan has
most 10 do.
Japancsc troops are hring used only
tu guard the railways u II maintained
IT ~ difficult. expensive task to keep
our truops In Mauchurin. Sy the Jap
nncsc hut until the league of nation
can exert an effective control or until
some alliance uf other nations relieve
az uf the responsibility, We gee me- ~.
formative hut to police this bandit IN
tested. chaotir territory along the Man.
,hurinu railway