The Alaska daily empire., 1921-10-25

Dy Olner countries. The CHlnd UT several centuries back assumed an offensive position and Japan waited for several hundred years to make China pay. Then it was Russia, seek ing an outlet to ieefree waters. that proved ffenace to Japan.
 Therefore, Japan naturally enough desires to protect her borders from any chance of aggressbons. This she is accused of attempting and refer enee to a map of Asia offers it's con vincing argument. rightly, or wrongly
 Can Guard Sea of Japan
 Japan controls Saghalin and thus can erect an effective guard for the upper entrance to the Sea of Japan. Likewise. the Tsushima Islands, stretching alnos. across the Korea Strait, with most excellent Opportuhi- ties for military defense measures, afford protection for the lower end of the Sea of Japan With the Mari time Province added to Korea as part of the empire, Japan would make the Sea of Japan a mill pond and thus erect a barrier against military az gression, as well as control conner cial waters of the utmost importance. The aims and policies of Japan, however, have not been developed sufficiently to enable anyone .. to make the definite charge that Japan is seeking anything of this sort, yet it is difficult to believe that sthe shrewd and watchful militarists of Japan could overlook such an oppor- tunity for defense and control.
 In all fairness to Japan, it should be made clear that the, Far Eastern situation as so outlined does not as yet approach the proportions of a policy in fact It is, however, most excellent suspicion, due chiefly to methods that Japan, has used. More than that, from the Japanese point of view such a policy would be most fitting and of great practical use once accomplished. It dove-tails most ad- miraIbly in supposed lheme for the extension of the empire, as well as the actual needs of the empire as it exists today Time will prove or disprove, but the very fact that this is true and that it will take time alone to show Japan's hand, is a source of concern for the world.
 It almost seems to be obvious that if Japan is, unselfish in her., aims of today she would 'proelaim .herself frankly and emphatically, and read just her methods to such an end Japan does not do so. Japan denies any spirit of aggression, while she resorts to contradictory means. This Edces not tend toward confidence in Tokyo statesmanship. Rather it places a premium upon it. And in the meantime, the world watches Japan as Japan has never been watched be fore.
 Aggression Arguments
 In this connection it is interesting to note the declarations of certain foreign defenders of a policy of az gression on the part of Japan. We are told that the world made no par ticular outcry against the British when vast stretches of Asia were falling into their maw. We were un' concerned when India was absorbed as we were when Britain spread West and East and Northeast along ] Malay Straits, Singapore way and then over the Himalayas into Thibet and as we were when Britain, not satisfied with her aggressions, took up her sphere of influence in the Yangste, the best part of China. Rus. sia's thrust into Asia, carrying her to the Pacific and thence back to the Gulf of Chilli and op into Man churia and Mongolia was carried on almost without protest. France ab- I sorbed Tonkin and 80 millions of peo- pie. and spread sphere of influence south of the Yangtse. Germany went into Shantung on the flimsiest of ex cuses. And China was partitioned with no friends at court.
 Why should Japan be prevented from following in the footsteps of Western nations1
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