The Washington herald., 1921-10-06
Japan at the Conference.

than now, II the Washington conference does
not reach agreement, is true. But the OBJ
ject of the conference is not wholly phianthropic;
not just to save Europe from ITSELF nor Japan
from the of her ways. So far this
try is concerned its objects are mainly American
to assure peace on the Pacific to open the ways to
trade and to Tighten the enormous burden of taxa
ton. 1t is true that this people can, if they must
dump $1,000 100000 year in navy and airplanes
and fortihcations but they will be nightly dsap
pointed if they have to do this.
1t is not so certain that Japan cannot almost
as well stand the drain of like war preparedness.
The potential resources OF Japan may be underest
mated. In her present position she controls Shan
tung with its supply Of minerals. She is penetrat-
ing Siberia, another mineral storehouse. Indus
trially, she uses American methods. She has
endless supply OF cheap labor and can produce far
more cheapy than any other industrial people.
Naval building is with her, much less expensive
than with this country.
Her national debt is but SI,3oo,ooo,ooo; her an
nual revenues and disbursements about $780,
100000. She maintains army in the field OF
100000 and has a navy which in efficiency would
bother Great Britain as much did Germanys
With the expansion just in front of her, she
look to future of financial, economic and military
power which will rank her as the equal of any other
on earth. This is her ambition. Mtarsm is in
her blood 1t is her tradition. She is cropping in
the first steps beyond it, but is still in its grasp
This is the Japan that will come to the Wash
ington conference, reluctantly, not wishing to
change clingng this ambition, and yet with that
other ambition to be modern; to be of the West
which she dimly understands; to be of family she
rather resents, and of civilization which is
strange She is the problem to be solved, and If
solved it will be only if made to feel really of the
family and secure in it, or if made to realize that
she must be OF the family or be suppressed. 1t is
well enough to realize that she does not especially
fear the United States alone. Given another ten
years for expansion, consolidation and development
she believes she will be at least our equal in
strength and more than our equal in readiness Is
she very much mistaken?
In any international conference this government
is always at distinct disadvantage. Its delegates
can promise nothing, can pledge nothing. They
can agree only to recommend Even the treaty
with Spain was ratified with the greatest difficulty
Yhe treaty OF Versailles involving most OF the
world of nations. conclusive to other govern
nents that no agreement reached at council table
with our representatives had any conclusive value
The tripary treaty for the protection OF France is
pigeonholed The treaty of Berlin. negotiated quite
directly by the State Department, meets reservations
in Senate almost two-thirds OF the dominant party
But what the representatives OF other govern
ments agree among themselves, they can have quite
complete confidence will be fulfilled. If this govern
ment could or would, form an alliance with Great
Britain Japan France and Italy, defensive IN terms,
and including freedom OF the seas, disarmament
would be practically assured If it could, or would,
form such an alliance even with Great Britain
alone, the same result would quite surely follow.
Would this Senate, any Senate, approve such
treaty, one based on common interests mutual sim
cerity and confidence, and spirit of international
friendship?
If such a treaty cannot be made and approved;
If disarmament must only by threats, by
alternative of war, by compulsion, by You sign
here or rich America will work your ruin," then the
agreement would be one to be maintained only in
It's avoidance. 1t would be scrap of paper. Self
preservation is the first law and with both Great
Britain and Japan, selfpreservation is freedom of
the seas.