New-York tribune., 1921-11-16
World Forced
Japan to Arm,
Is Toxic View
CONTINUED from pnso one,

the United States. The japanese
fought braveIy with whatever weapons
they possessed, with swords, bows snd
arrows and primitive fro arms, but
were no match against the vcll armed
foreign fighters. On each occasion they
suffered an ignoble defeat and were
compelled to pay heavy indemnities to
the victors. En- passant. | must no.
forget to mention with gratitude tie
fact that the United States, with her
chars cteristic liberality and magma
nimity, voluntarily returned to Japan
her share Of the indemnities some
tvs enty years later, concluding that it
was unjustly exacted,
Holds Armament Justified
Erera the above brief resume Of the
history Of Japan during the days fol-
lowing the opening Of her doors to the
re st Of the world, it will be seen that
her statesmen, in whose hands the des-
tiny Of Japan was intrusted, had very
good reason TO conclude that she must
possess strong army and navy in
order to guard her safety and inds-
pendence.
japan in those days was like .
lonely house standing OH plain, con-
stantly exposed to the mercy Of eLe-
ments. In order to keep 1t intact the
inmates must sse that its roef and
walls are strong enough to resist the
though in deine go they must spend
the greater part of their possessions
and earnings. In similar way the
Japanese, in order TO prepare them
selveg against possible foreign agsres-
| sion, were compelled to saerifiee almost
everything for making her army and
navy strong and keeping them so. For
this purpose. poor rs they were, they
spent the greater part OF their earn.
their best sons went into military and
naval service, and the best part Of
their energy was directed toward max
| ing it efficient That they were not
foolish in sticking to this line OF pol
! lev was amply proved on two eeca-
sions, when confronted with grave ma
I tional danger, and for defensive pur-
pose they successfully fought China
! in 1894 to 1895 and Russia ten years
later.
Price Of Victory Excessive
| There is no denying that the high pa-
sition japan has attained in the comfy
| OF n6llOHS Is ONC " tAlS SNS~Coo
of her arms. rhe Japanese, however,
have begun of late to question whether
the price paid has not been too high.
In the first place, they find the pre-
pondeTant influence secured in society
! by the military, thanks to the great
service they have rendered the nation
and still welded by them, unbearable.
| Secondly, they find the taxes they have
| 10 pay for military and naval expendi-
ture too heavy. Thirdly, they wonder
whether, could they be relieved of some
of the heavy military and naval burden,
! they might not be able TO direct the
capital, Intellect and labor to be saved
| therefrom toward the pursuit and de-
/ velopment of peaceful and really civil
| lied human activities and enlarge their
share Of the contribution to the prog
ress of the world.
Be it said to our sorrow and humil-
| ,ation, as a matter Of fact, since pan
opened her intercourse with the rest
| Of the world she has contributed pgac-
sically nothing toward the progress Of
! the worlds civilization in science, lit
! erature and art, in thought and ideas,
| in culenre and education. At home her
roads . :. in terribly neglected state.
many ~ aer schools are but poorly
stated and s-.uipped, and her factories