The Washington times., 1921-12-09
JAPAN LOSING
SYMPATHY OF
ARMS WRITER'S
Policies Of Nippon React to
Aiisnats Friendship OF
Parisy Journalists.
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART.

One Of the most interesting phases
Of the conference has been the change
In the mental attitude of the news
rRper correspondents toward Japan.
It was extremely cordial at first; smil-
ms ana diplomatic oriental statesmen
met them, showed a wide and almost
American point of view, and talked
peace and friendliness. Later there
came In succession doubt, suspicion,
and recently profound distrust.
A. this II the result Of actual con!
tact, II 10 important. And az day by
day goes on this distrust Is developing
into dislike and into apprehension that
Japan is getting away with some
thing"
Il am not very active Christian"
said . correspondent today. But the
difference we are finding is much
deeper than the difference In color.
II u the difference between Christian
ethics and the other thing - 4
n z, Talk Of Agreement.
: On top OF this comes talk of a three
>cornered agreement between Japan,
Great, Britain and the United States.
an agreement however which Is to
CARRY no guarantees whatever. and Is
to relate only to their common prob
lens. 1t will supercede the Anglo
Japanese alliance II II goes through,
and It Is obviously suggested as a tenn.
pOrary compromise. Whereas the
ARglo-Japanese alliance was one Of
fehsive alliance, this agreement Is
promised TO be no more than an en-
deayor to preserve the status quo.
Whether the status quo should be
preserved or not is q different matter.
- One of the most definite stands
taken by the japanese delegates refers
to American naval bases In the Pacific.
Without naval bases there 1t does not
matter whether we have five ships or
thirty to the japanese three. for they
win be entirely useless. 1t Is not for
tifications but naval bases which are
disputed. Without a naval base a
tattleship Is as useful as an auto
mobile in the desert without gasoline.
+ Why then do the Japanese propose
to make US helpless In the Racific, or
dependent on the good offices of prob
lematic alliss7 The answer 10 because
the end of this war has found Japan
already the possessor Of a great en-
pire, stolen while the attention Of tho
rations was diverted elsewhere; Of an
empire corresponding in the nature of
its wealth and agricultural opportuni-
ties to our Western States. enormously
rich In COAL. iron, oil, and gold. And
by the method by which she annexed
Korea she now proposes to annex these
territories. During the ten years naval
holiday she can and will legalize these
holdings.
~'-t Methods Of Japan.
The method by which she annexed
Korea was the one she 10 pursuing
now; first, she guaranteed the indie
rendence Of Korea, then she made a
professionals, and finally she annexed
1T These steps were not immoral in
the old practice of diplomacy. Even
now, In the world awakening. they
could be carried through on the theory
that we are not our. brothers keeper.
But they lead In a curious and perilous
direction; they close the open door.
Japan has at last secured entire
control Of the Japan sea. 1t IL now
virtually lake. with two narrow
entrances, north and south, and her
possessions and "protectorates" close
it in: Korea, Port Arthur, The Shan
tung Peninsula, Vladivostock and the
northern part of Saghaiin island. with
the. Japanese island Themselves,
effectualiy close off Northern China
and give Japanese control over Mon.
golia and Manchuri4 One Of the
richest parts Of the globe. enormous
and now ready to add to the worlds
wealth thus IL cut off save for
japanese ports and lies ready for
Japanese exploitation. There Is no
other egress than by the 6,000-mile
railway haul over Siberia at prohibit
tive cost, and even then only to reach
what amounts to the barrtcade OF
Russia.
/ Here we have fruitful cause for
future trouble. The open door. can
only be partly open unless Japan re-
linauishes these holdings, and she will
hold on to them by every trick In her
bag. We are to have no naval bases
further away than Hawaii! We are
to hail with Joy her final concession
on her ship building program. which
is burden she is glad to lessen. while
similarly limiting our own! We are
TO accept her grudging yielding on
things she is actually indifferent
about as victory. And all the time
japan has got the thing she wants
and means to hold on to 1t. She has
got her great empire, ana can close
the door to II on the rest OF the world.
Japan has naval vessels now at
Kannchatka. and her absorption OF
eastern Siberia Is proceeding method
icaiiy. She has not recognized the
Far Eastern republic Her present
tactics are to close the Japan sea.
and then, without possibility OF out.
side interference. to consolidate ana
strengthen her holdings.
All she needs ID time.
There IL no high moral ground Tor
the nations to take. All OF them
have done the same thing In the
past. But 1t means the closing OF
the trade open door for eastern
Siberia. Mongolia, Manchuria, and
northern China, an area enormously
larger than our own. 1t Will make
Japan greater than the British en-
pire, ard more strongly competitive,
II makes actual the threat OF cooiie
labor. ana this brings It home TO
every American workman.
Only the withdrawal OF all Japan.
ese troops, battieships, and secret
akents would prevent this colossal
annexation now going on, ana what
nation or group Of nations viii issue
that osNcr to Japan1 None, until
the thife II done, and only another
world var can undo II.
Ard the Japan which is enclosing
the Japar SEA, which will have all
- Is,-.-t.N fy0Sy, ita new