The New York herald., 1921-11-17
SAYS JAPAN FAVORS
OPEN DOOR POLICY
Toxic Correspondent Sure
Country Does Not Fear Eco
nomic Competition.
CONSERVATISM KEYNOTE
Drastic or Radical Proposals
Not Expected From Japan
ese Delegates.
CONSERVATISM KEYNOTE
BY X. X. KAWAKAMI.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., Nov. 10.
Not only on the matter of naval re-
trenchment but on questions affecting
China and the Far East, Japan will fol-
low course Of sanity and moderation.
She will offer no drastic proposal. nor
will she make any spectacular appeal to
America. for the dramatic is not the
forte OF the Japanese.
1t is not unlikely that the Japanese
delegation will submit to the conference
a document setting forth In detail
Japans economic needs arising out of
overpopulation and lack of raw material
at home. In one of my previous articles
in THE NEW YORK HERALD / have in
dicated the line of argument which this
document IL presented to the conference
may follow.
Nevertheless the document will con-
tain. am sure. no proposal which may
be characterized as drastic or radical.
The Japanese delegation will ask. 1t Is
surmised. for the recognition Of the
principle that Japan, along with other
nations. must be allowed the privilege
of peaceful. non-political economic activ-
tiles in the regions Of Eastern Asia.
In asking for this recognition Japan
is seeking no special privilege. She is
willing and ready to meet other nations
in the arena Of free competition. True.
in 1915 she entered into an agreement
with China by which Japanese subjects
received the liberty of trade and travel.
as we'll as leasing farm lands, in south
Manchuria. But this privilege is by no
means exclusive to the Japanese. be-
cause by virtue of the most favored ma
tion clause contained in the foreign
treaties Of China. citizens or subjects of
other countries equally enjoy the same
privilege.
Not Afraid to Compete.
Because of their geographical advan-
tage the Japanese seem confident that
they will not be defeated by any nation
in free economic competition in Man
churia, Siberia or Shantung. For that
reason they are not only unafraid of
the open door" principle but are in
favor of it. 1t Is true that In the jast
there were times when some Of the
Japanese leaders. especially those of
the military type, urged the necessity
Of excluding foreign railway enterprises
at least from South Manchuria. But
this was mainly due to the Russian
menace which had long been the night
mare of the Japanese.
To-day Russia's fate in eastern Asia
! Is yet uncertain. Disorder and lawless-
ness undoubtedly will continue to pre-
vail in Siberia for some years or dec
AIDES to come. This condition must be
considered in formulating Japan's policy
in South Manchuria, especially with ref
erence to railway enterprise, IL she is to
be the guardian of peace and order In
that region.
And yet the menace of a disorganized
! lawless Russia will be more easily met
| than the menace of gigantic military
| organization that was the Cars en-
pire.
! Realization Of this changed situation
cannot fail to Influence Japan's policy
| in Manchuria. There is reason to be-
lieve that in the future Japan will well
come foreign. and especially American,
capital and enterprise in South Man
! churia.
| In America severe criticisms have
been directed against the 1shii-Lansing g
understanding. l do not think Japan
attaches much Importance to that
understanding. Certainly 1t confers no
benefit upon Japan. except the unwel-
come benefit of suspicion and misunder-
standing. Not few Japanese leaders
| advocate its abrogation. japan out of
| respect to Mr.. Lansing and Viscount
Ishi will not volunteer to scrap that
| unhappy document, but l am inclined
to think she will not cling to 1t any
more than she clings to the eight-and-
eight building programme in her naval
armament.
Conditions Are Changed.
In the last few years events have
moved swiftly In japan. The political
and diplomatic ideas that prevailed in
the days of the late Premier Marshal
Terauchi no longer prevail In japan
to-day. This changed mental attitude
Of the Japanese leaders cannot fail to
influence their policy in Manchuria and
| Shantung.
Take the case of Shantung. Japan. In
the memorandum addressed to China
| on September last, definitely re-
nounced the sphere of influence which
had been established in Shantung by
Germany and to which she succeeded by
virtue Of the Versailles treaty. In the
Chino-German convention OF March. 1898.
! 1t is provided.
"If within the Province of Shantung
any matters are undertaken for which
foreign assistance. whether In personnel,
| or In capital. or in material. Is invited,
] China agrees that the German mer-
chants concerned shall first be asked
whether they wish TO undertake the
work and provide the materials"
Again, tn Chino-German agreement Of
July, 1911. has this article: SHOULD the
| Chinese Government and merchants be
short of capital for the exploitation OF
the mines IN the districts relinquished
to China by this agreement, they shall
approach German capitalists for loans.
If foreign materials and machinery are
needed they shall purchase them from
Germany. IL foreign engineers are to De
employed they she'll engage German en-
gineers."
Thus. Shantung, under the German
regime. became a watertight sphere OF
influence. To emphasize this position
Germany procured n railway concession
from Chefoo to Weihsien, railway
| which she never intended to build, bur
which she wanted no other nation,
China included. to build, because such
a line. II built. might divert the pros
perity of the German city of Tsingtao
to the Chinese city of Chefoo
Japan, In the recent memorandum 10
China, proposes TO do away with the
sphere of Influence i'm Shantung. She
| will retain no such preferential rights
as were held by Germany. She even
| proposes to turn over into the inter-
national banking consortium, of which
! America Is the dominant ffgure oop-