The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-16

ter of agreements but with . kind
OF moral gravitation.
II there IL . conflict. the British
masses will want 70 como In ON the
American side, and II Il seems likely
to be In the least IN. lnOoncluslve
conflict. they win certainly come In.
II the rulers Of the Japanese dream
sible In the Pacific. they arc under
a. dangerous . doluslon ~ over
lured . great nation to disaster.
But there are many signs that II
ever the ruling people Of Japan en-
tertained this delusion, they are no
Ing disillusionized and that they b.
gin to realize that a war with Amer
lea in the Pacific will mean war
with America. Britain--And possibly,
to Judge from q recent astonishing
remark by that able writer Pert
max" France.
May Use Influence.
France may use her influence at
Washington on behalf Of japan In
certain matters. but that II all ia
pan will get from France. The
Japanese, believe. now fully realize
this, and the trend OF recent Japan
ese utterances 10 all in the direction
of discussion and the disavowal Of
any belligerent dreams.
Yet. Japan continues to arm and.
though she now dlsavoWs war rs
her method. she sits very proudly
and stiffly In her weapons ut the
pariey.
She may have limited and re-
strained her dreams, but there IL
stu some minimum In her mind. BE-
yond which she will not retreat
vxyifhOuvt n afr,v111A
What Is that minimum which will
satisfy her without war? Will u
satisfy her for good. will II seem TO
permanently satisfactory to her that
she will be willing not only to ret
inside the thought Of and preparation
for an immediate war. but--wlsAt Is
Of far moro importAnce-enter into
such . binding contract for her fu.
VIII enable her to beat the swords Of
ture international relationships As
her SaInurni into psouxhshares for
Is Japan peculiarly an obstacle to
the practical, IL informal. federation
of the world to which we all hope
that things are moving?
Small Ruling Class.
When try to frame a hopeful
answer to that question, II occurs
to me with added force that Japan
is not a people trying to express It,
SELF through a government a. we
Atlantic peoples gre, but a govern
ment, a small RI class. In effec-
tive possession OIL <n obedience Low.
ing people.
And remember that that small
ruling class has long tradition of
romantic and chivalrous swordman-
ship. IL that ruling class going to
keep its power and IL 1t going to
preserve its tradition?
No one could be more urgent than
j for the complete disarmament Of
tho entire world, but no one could
be more convinced Of the unwipdom
Of disarmament BY America or any
other power while any single coun-
try in the world maintains . spirit
that must lead 1t last 10 , resump-
ton Of warfare.
To disarm in such . situation IL
to leave the trouble tn accumulate
upon our grandchildren; 10 patch up
mitted "expansion" Of such . power
Is simply 70 prepare for an expanded
war in the future. f
But Is that japanese ruling class
resolved at any cost. even at the
cost of another world war, and at the
risk of destroying Japan. to hold on
to its present power and to adhere
to its traditions?
Unparalleled In. History.
In the last hundred years Japan,
because Of her aristocracy and be-
cause Of her general obedience. has
achieved feats Of adaptation to new
that are unparalleled In
AS we have noted. there have re-
Gently been indications of further
changes in the spirit of Japan. She
is said to be pressing forward with