The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-03
In a Conserving Mood.

courteous, the most agreeable and the most
genuinely subtle of the earth's people.
Japan is miltarst, but prefers peace. She knows
what she wants and if she can get this by waiting
and without war, she prefers that method. She
would rather wait to take advantage of conditions
than to fight; she had rather force conclusion
favorable to her contention by getting a sudden
underhold, than by combat.
Her militarism is not bluff; it is the outward
show of an inward purpose. But is last
resort and not pastime with her. She studies it
as a science and uses it background She has
fought but one war of consequence, that with Rus
sia and might have lost that by getting too far
away from home, save for Mr.. Roosevelt. Her
with China was but childs play, while her part
In the Great War was little more than a series of
feints. But they proved the courage of her people
and their excellence soldiers.
" No nation knows its limitations better than
Japan and none can meet occasion with more of
adroitness. gaining of advantage out of such
resources she has. She is the only great power
that is not white She is the only people of all the
East who have been capable of learning from the
white nations of the West all that has made them
dominant in commerce. production, organization
and virtual rulers of all others. Japan is alone
her side of the world She could dominate it, but
without trade and intercourse with the West, she
probably would retrograde and eventually be over
Whelmed by the greater mass.
She cannot stand alone and knows it. She is
what she is because of the West and she knows it.
Isolated from the West, she would sink back to the
level OF the East and she knows it. Her future in
the East depends upon the West, and it is essential
preserve the friendship the good understanding,
the cooperation and the recognition of the West
a great power. The fact is that Japan probably
has not knowingly stepped beyond what she under
stood to be quite regular, quite true to model, in
her absorption process in the East.
She has been rebuked only by the United
States. This country alone has found fault with
her methods and it is this country that brings
her for trial, it were, before court of the other
great powers At first she inclined to resent
this and to fight back. Her second thought was
wiser and she comes saying only: what will your"
She to fully intend to yield everything asked
of her to methods policies. She hardly be
expected to yield the substance already hers by a
title recognized as quite valid by the conduct of all
nations.
Japan will not sign away her future. The
United States hardly expect her to do this.
That future lies in industrial development so that
she may support twice three times her present
population on her home lands. For this she must
have raw materials of all kinds and they lie right
across the Japan Sea on the Asiatc mainland. She
must have foods from the source She can
not be denied these the right to acquire them
just other nations acquire them. She cannot
be denied the right to be the great power of the
East a second Great Britain without her domnions
but with like resources, acquired by so-caed
economic penetration" great and powerful
Japan of fifty years from now, be more a
menace to, America then than is the Japan of today
nor will such development menace our peace or
safety
Whatever is asked of Japan which is reason
able, she will doubtless grant. If asked to sign
away her future she will consent or consenting
will not agree. Only that way lies any menace, or
danger, any hostility and future enmity. The
United States is the prosecutor and can win the
if the indictment is not too long, too specific
and too inclusive. 1t win it moreover with
Japan friend and China free to make her own
future.