New-York tribune., 1921-11-07
Japan Facing
Crisis on Eve
OF fArnsPa arley
Crave Political Situation and
Alarming Economic Con-
ditior1s at Home Added to
Uncertain Foreign Policy
Seeks Cooperation Here
Envoys to Council, 1t Is Be-
lieved, Want to Remove
Feeling of Estrangemesll

WASHINGTON. Nov. = (By The As
sociated Pressl.-Japan enters the
seek of the opening of the armament
conference with critical political sit
nation at home, with national
economic situation that is causing her
leaders apprehension and with her
relations with foreign powers, particu-
Isrly the United States, Great Britain
and China, viewed by her Foreign
Office as at least open to Improvement.
Many OF the ablest Japanese are now
either in Washington or in other parts
Of the United States engaged in the
task OF helping their country find its
true place in the world.
The present situation is frankly at
tributed by responsible Japanese 20 the
fact shat in her rapid absorption of
Western civilization Japan has not
realized the inevitable effect of that
civilization upon her own countrymen,
WHO have awakened TO a spirit of lib
eraism and are demanding more from
the state as individuals.
Developed into an industrial nation
from an agricultural one. Japan. more
and more dependent upon her industrial
workers, IS finding them almost insa-
table IN their demands and recalcitrant
at time when the cost of living is
higher than IN any other country and
when the country's manufactured prod
ucts are with difficulty finding a world
market in competition with those of
other countries where labor is cheaper,
where thrift has become a habit and
where the workman's efficiency is great
err The industrial situation in Japan
+ II l. IL
iEg unrest.
In foreign political relations the Jap
anese people as q whole are entirely dis
satisfied with the trend of affairs be-
tween their country and the United
States. Everybody seems TO realize the
vague estrangement that has developed
since the epoch of the Russo-Japanese
War, when the Japanese felt that they
had enjoyed the sympathy and approval
of the American people.
Return to Cooperation Seen
One great cause of that estrange-
ment, Japanese explain, is the fact that
it was the United States that con-
stantly protested as Japan, from time
to time, made political moves in con-
nectlon with her expansion in the Far
East. The effect of this was to pro-
duce upon Japanese minds the impress
SION that America, and America alone.
was becoming jealous of Japan's swift
sscendancy in the world and was at
tempting TO check it. This idea is fire.
ouentiy voiced in the press of japan.
where politicians claim that their coun-
try has done no more than other ma
tions IN the past
There is reason to believe that the
coming OF so many representative jap
n fra
for one thing, a sincere effort to get
in touch with the West, because japan.
associated with the Occident for scarce
ly more than half a century, has come
to the realization that her knowledge
Of the 0ccident and al that it stands
for is insufficient. She is. it is under
stood, ready to submit her case frankly
10 the representatives of the powers
assembled at Washington The Toxic
correspondent of The Associated Press
has been assured by responsible
spokesmen that however much war talk
may be INDUCED in by sensational jap
anese, the real Japan knows the neces-
ssty and urgency of removing any feel
ing Of estrangement and of returning
10 the earlier days of friendly CO.
operation.
Alliance Matter of Concern
The third matter of concern to Jap
anese is understood to be the failure
Of British statesmen to agree upon
renewal of the alliance, or military
pact, with Japan. Irrespective of the
question as to what powers or power
the alliance was directed against, the
agreement was deemed of great moral
strength to japan, because it made her
an ally Of a great white power The
old agreement continues automatically
until denounced by either party, but
hotn haves agreed that whenever it's
terms are not in harmony with the
covenant of the League of Nations it
IS the convenant and not the alliance
itself which shall prevail japanese
publicists already call the alliance
dead letter" and consider that a
powerful prop has been removed from
Under Japan.
Japans relations with China have
not materially improved, and China. in
iss state OF disorganizatIon, is believed
BY Japanese to be vital problem be-
cause the futures of both of the great
oriental powers are closely and init
mately linked.