The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-11-13
Japan Not Increasing
in Population Figures
as Fast as Is Claimed

both countries which, like Magnolia
and the Hokkaido OF tho Japanese
group, could support larger popula-
ton With advantage TO all concerned,
including the outside western world.
But these uecessitous people, Chinese
and Japanese alike, seeking their
livelihood, follow tho lines of least
resistance, Just "a people OF other
races do in ether parts OF lie world.
To sum up, then, In the Dutch
Island Of Java alone there are more
Chinese llgrauts than there are to
be found overseas Japanese IN an
tho Asatic countries. And In the
relatively small countries uf Slam
and Cochin China there are moro
"pukka' Chinese omigrants than
there are japanese In the wide world
living outside the imperial domln-
ions.
But II there arc any japanese who
Coyet Shantung, and there seem to b.
some who do, II is not as an outlet
for surplus population A land that
in the tillable districts Is carrying a
population OF three thousand Chinese
10 the square mile has no room for
japanese emigrants. Indeed II has
no available space for flies Of the
most diminutive variety Intcll-
gent Japanese understand this fal-
lacy as we'll and probably better
than do other people, but they arc
impressed with its strategic value
In the present, and its potential value
should there ever break out strug-
gle for the mastery OF the Pacific
world between the east and the
west Shantung rounds uut and
completes the preseat strange hold
which Japan has upon North China.
OF, course the coal and iron and the
hecf-rroducts OF the Province of
Copfucius are not lost sight OF. but
what militarists really want are the
millions Of stalwart men whom they
apparently think could be converted
Into japanese, or at least Asiatic.
soldiers on the day OF battle which
may dawn unless the Pacific prob
lens are adjusted on n basis OF COM
mon honesty and common sense.
Japancse Growth slower.
Now the statistics of undoubted
authenticity that are to be placed
before the conference will show sur
prisingly enough that the overseas
population Of tho Japanese is not
increasing fast, and that whore its
presence Is responsive to political
pressure II is not increasing at all.
Despite all the fairy tales about per-
fectly equipped Japanese divisions
which are crouching In the Cavite
and the Lanao jungles to spring
upon Uncle Sam and his wards a
the word OF command, there are
only six thousand Japanese In the
Philippine Islands, and their num-
her has decreased considerably In
the last few years.
But the figures from other quar-
ters are even more important and
! significant. According to the Japan
Csc year book, in the year 1912 there
were 70 thousand Japanese In South
| Manchuria, and in 1918. to be pre-
else, on December 81 of that year,
as vet the most recent figures avail
able to the outside public. there
were only sixty thousand In 1913
there were $4,000 japanese in
! Formosa. and the most recent figures
indicate that there are 14S.000 now.
| Sosthe population Is apparently in
| creasing at the rate of three thou
sand year. although aided by free
! lands free tools and free tranSpor-
tationi There would seem TO be no
pressure of "pent-up millions be-
| hind this increase, which is artificial
/ and inconsidcrablc.
But the story OF South Manchuria
| Is moro significant avl more reveal
/ ing TO those who observe what is
/ going on in the world about them.
/ All the laws and the lessons Of
| colonization ana intelligent admlnlh-
I tratiou are confirmed when We look
! At the Japanese in Manchuria. This
] thrifty emigration increased very
/ rapidly I'm the years after the war
with Russia. In 1908 there were
| $4,000 Japanese in Manchuria, and
! these numbers increased until 1915.
when the paternal Government pro-
cecded to force from the Chinese
government special favors and spe-
ciai PRIVILEGES for their overseas
song. In 1915 there were undouht-
edly 125O0O Japanese in Msnchuria.
/ They had increased very rapidly
from 1908. when the emigration Rnt
under full swing, hut from the mo-
ment political privileges we're de-
manded, and Indeed eXacted the out
look for economic domination waned