South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-10-21

that we could send an army OF IN
vasion TO Japan IS also nonsense.
The japanese would probably take
the Philippines and then wait for
Us 20 come and take them back. We
would probably not be so foolish as
TO try 10 take them back but would
nave our navy interfere as much as
possible with japanese trade and ov-
erseas interests. However. IN these
days OF new military and naval IN
ventions 81 is OF course impossible TO
guess as 20 how such a war would be
conducted. but It ia certain that the
intervening distance between the two
nations would make warfare difficult
and would consequently constitute A
strong reason for the maintenance
OF peace.
Financial Losses of a War.
The financial losses Of a war would
/ OF course be serious for the United
States but would be disastrous for
Japan. We are Japan's best custom
/ ers and It would bring bankruptcy 10
many lines Of business II Japan were
20 fight her best customer. Further
more she buys from Us great guam
titles OF essential raw materials
without which a great part Of her in
dustry would suffer a considerable
collapse.
The financing OF such a war would
seem TO be entirely beyond the pow
or Of a people who are already taxed
20 the limit and are already living
largely from hand 10 mouth. Before
the world war it was suggested that
either Germany or Russia might
finance a war against the United
States by the purchase OF japanese
bonds but the conditions are now
completely changed and the only
market in the world where large is
sues OF government obligations can
be absorbed is in the United States.
Furthermore Japan needs enorm Gus
amounts Of industrial capital for the
development Of her country and the
only great reservoir of such capital
is M the United States Then too, the
fact should not be lost sigh Of that in
"A war between the United States and
japan the interests of Canada and
Australia would be just the same as
I
and this situation would insure the
support Of Great Britain during the
contest. Japan is unpopular in China
and is constantly having trouble with
the natives Of Korea, and II Is conse-
gently permissible for us to presume
that the influence of the mainland Of
Asia would be on our side.
After studying the situation in the
far east It would indeed seem very
unlikely that there will be any war
/ between the United States and ia
pan until the passing years have
/ brought great changes in fundamen-
tai conditions in this pat Of the
world. We should, however, always
keep in mind the fact that the coun-
try is controlled by a military clique
much the same as was Germany and
that this clique is not responsible to
the people but is nevertheless all
powerful. If these men should so
far lose their heads as to believe that
a great war would be to the ultimate
advantage of Japan, international
trouble might very possibly ensue.
Then. too. this military party might
sometime in the future face extinc-
zion because of increasing discomfort
on the part Of the masses and grow
ing liberal sentiment favoring real
constitutional government. Under
such circumstances reactiOnaries IL
various cOunu 'es have frequently
brought about foreign complications
in order to remain in power at home
and the United States should be
careful TO take no actions that will
strengthen the militarists and weak
EN- the liberal movement in Japan.
II would seem as though the
/ United States should not be over
awed by the thoroughly advertised
military genius of the Japanese, re-
membering that while they have a
great army, and an efficient navy.
I they have nevertheless fought but
Two wars in modern times. one
/ against the unprepared Chinese and
7 the other against the corrupt and
/ poorly organized Russian forces OPP
Grating many thousands of miles
7 from home. The policy OF the United
/ States I'm the far east should be
I stro.ig. but on the other hand It
should be carefully based on policies
I that are absolutely fair TO Japan, for
/ on good feeling and agreement be-
1 tween these two great countries the
peace of the world largely depends.