The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-20
u. s. REALIZES
JAPAN'S NEED
OF EXPANSION
Sympathy with Territorial AS
pirations Assured at Com
ing Arms Conference-To
Insist on Open Door
WANT CHINA INTEGRITY
BY MARK SULLIVAN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct 90
With part of the Japanese delegation
to the coming armament conference al
ready in America, and the rest of the
delegates on the sea, America-bound,
1t is appropriate to consider what will
be Americas attitude in the confer
ence with respect to those subjects in
which japan is most deeply interested.
These are the same subjects that will
be the most important in the confer
ence, for Japan's relation to the far
east is obviously more vital than that
of any other nation.
If our Japanese guests are in the
faintest degree apprehensive of find
ing America in an attitude lacking
sympathy with their reasonable nation
al aspirations, they will meet with an
agreeable surprise, such as ought to do
much both to reassure them and help
towards an exalted atmosphere for the
conference as a whole.
America recognizes the fundamental
fact that Japan has population of
something more than so 600, 900 people.
Confined on few islands, of which
the aggregate territory is less than
that of a medium sized American
state. The population thus confined
within small area has a high birth
rate, and they have the modern pract-
ices of hygene and sanitation, which
enable every we'll managed community
10 raise a normal proportion of its
babies to maturity. This fundamental
condition, coupled with Japans reason
able pride in her high development and
efficiency along every line of civiiiza-
ton, is sufficient ground for her
aspiration to expand.
America Honor Bound.
America is particularly under obliga-
tions to give sympathetic support to
this aspiration because of the fact that
Japan has generously assented and
honorably lived up to an agreement
that her surplus labor shall not come
to California. incidentally, this limita-
tion against Japanese immigration
into California is fait accompli and
will not be brought up at the confer
ence. Neither will the broader ques-
tion of equality, which was brought up
at Paris.
When it comes to determining
where Japan shall be given room to
expand The obvious answer lies on
the mainland of Asia, north of China.
In Manchuria, Mongolia, and Siberia
there can be found territory nearly
half as large as the United States.
With a present population of not much
over 100000 which under present con-
ditions is under the loosest and most
dubious form of government, and
which would be made better asset to
civilization by Japanese occupation.
While America public opinion will
undoubtedly concede Japon's right to
aspire and expand, it is equally true
that America will not depart from our
traditional policy of the open-door in
China, and that in affirming this policy
at the coming conference it will be
necessary for Japan to give up any
claim TO concessions.
Must Preserve Integrity
Spheres of influence and the like
which impair the integrity of Chinese
sovereignty and Chinese territory
Americas position is that the integrity
of China must be preserved, and that
no outside nation shall have a relation
70 China which is not shared equally
by every other outside nation. If we
are entirely frank in explaining this tc
Japan, ii will be necessary to say that
the secret of some of the methods
which her government has used in
acquiring a foothold in China has made
an unfortunate impression on many Of
our people.
third matter, the Anglo-Japanese
alliance, is bound to come into the
conference, directly or indirectly
Probably the United States will not
raise il, because il would not be the
highest courtesy for us to take that
\ kind of initiative. But any inquiry
by either the japanese or the British
into the state of American feelins
about this alliance will disclose tha
America does not like it. 1t does no
appeal to our sense of property il
such matters that in the far east
where three nations have large inter
eSts, any two of those nations shall
have an alliance which excludes tn,
other
We recognize that at the time thu
alliance was first made, 80 years ago
there was good reason for both japan
and Great Britain uniting TO protec
their interests against the aggression
OF Russia and Germany is now fac
tor in the far east. Under the changed
circumstances, it will undoubtedly b,
the position of the United States tha
there should no longer be any sucl
exclusive agreements in the far east
Copyright 1921 by the New Yorl
Evening Post, Inc)