Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-07
WHAT PREMIER HARA HAD TO
SAY


sination of Premier Hara of Japan,
Friday, is a misfortune of worldwide
Significance. He was in touch and
sympathy with progress and the new
order of things.
dress in which was much of appeal
for recognition Of Japan's laudable
aspirations, chief Of which is the re-
moval Of race barriers.
$50 long as one race or people
sticks to its traditional conceit. looks
down upon other races or peoples,
sets up unWarrantable barriers or
metes out discriminatory treat
ment it can hardly be said that the
causes of war have ceased to exist
This from the premier's address
is convincing in SO far as sticking to
conceit is concerned. IF sticking to
immutable race laws Is meant, the
case is different.
President Harding's address at
birmingham is here applicable.
Give all men, whatever their color,
just economic treatment. A Jap as
well as a negro should wish to be a
first class man of his own kind rather
than an imitation or mongrel white
man. Attempts to blend races of
different colors have not been sue
cessf,d. The attempts to have
whites, Asiatcs and African ne
groes live happily in the same neigh
borhood on social equality have also
proved failures. Such conditions are
not essential TO the welfare Of either
race. Any attempt to insist on it is
unsuited to the time in which we
live.
That no race should adopt meas
ures calculated to compel the sui
eide of another race" is a reasonable
request. It Is probable that the liv-
ing conditions in Japan are not as
congested IS Premier Hara and other
japanese spokesman represent them,
but they certainly are in a way to be-
come 50. How to provide such an
outlet as the japanese may wish is
a serious problem. Unless a reason
able solution shall be found such
congestion must be a source of future
unrest and trouble.
Experience shows that wherever
the japanese gain a foothold with
the white races their methods and
ways Of living do not contribute to
economic justice to their ncighbors.
In other words they pull their neigh
bors down to lower standard or
compel them to get out. The higher
standards for which the people of
Japan are showing more insistcnce,
an increased wage, better living con-
ditions generally, will in time relieve
this situation to quite n degree. But
meanwhile provision must be made
respecting 1t. What shall it be?
Will Japan suggest? And will She
say just what territory she dcsfreso
Neither Russia nor China are to
be fully represented at the armament
conference. To take from them and
give to japan would not only be I'M
fair, 1t would be cause OF unrest
surprising any other in view. But
Premier Hara declares that Japan
wishes to see a reconstructed and
solid China, that her only ambition
In Siberia is the restoration of her
economic activities, whatever that
may mean. Today she has in China
1900 firms and 100000 people. Just
where would She seek the territorial
expansion she desires?
In concluding, Mr.. Hara saws:
If the whole efforts of a nation
must be devoted to the obtaining of
food and if no surplus energies are
left for the advancement of civiliza-
ton, the future of that nation is
gloomy indeed. The Japanese nation
is face toNface with such situation.
1t is, therefore, necessary that the
nation entrusted with the task of
maintaining the peace of the Far
East should be immune from such
troubles. For this reason the throw
Ing open. OF the world to all corners
Is one of the essential conditions of
permanent peace"
He qualities this by adding that he
does not necessarily insist on an I'M
conditional throwing open of the
world. but what the conditions might
be that would satisfy the demands of
the several races concerned Is a prob
lem requiring all the enlightened
Selfisfness they possess for its proper
solution. Moreover, one is i'm
pressed that Japan. in asking that
the limitation Of ornaments shall
be fixed before the problems of the
Pacific are taken up. Is putting the
cart before the horse. At least, If
that is to be attempted Japan should
formulate her requests, come to the
conference prepared to say what she
wants. Furthermore 1t is doubtful
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