The Alaska daily empire., 1921-10-31

that might be construed to be within 1 an offensive area.
 There is another consideration, in this connection, that has it's definite l position of importance in all talk of war, It is merely the issue <hat [ could bring the two governments to | militancy. If it Is Japanese desire 1 for the extension of her empire then more nations than the United States would be involved and certainly no one would claim Japan as guilty of such foolishness as declaring war against combination of enemies, and yet the only policy that might involve us in war is this very one. Japan must realize that war is 9 source of the utmost danger for her She has everything to gain by re ma!ning at peace, although her mili- tarists do point to war as the meth cd by which the empire has always been extended Her future greatness and prosperity positively depend di- rectly upon a continuance of peace full relations so that business and commerce, and industry may be ex- tended to meet the country's fullest needs.
 Those who argue war is inevitable answer this by stating that of course Japan is not ready for war yet, but that she is preparing for war and for war with the United States since we are the only nation that opposes he Japanese policies and methods ,f extension. These critics point to the fact that the Japanese militar- ists spend one-haR of the annual budget for military purposes Japan, they assert, is increasing her navy for one purpose, that of war. Like wise has the government reduced the perlod of voluntary service so that an additional 100000 men are given army training each year.
 Everything points to war" we are told, "and nothing to peace"
 Purposes of Japanese Plans
 Well. the Japanese might be pre- naring for war and again they might be working. as they say, on thes idea that the best commercial offensive i3sa strong military defensive, all the while pointing to other nations that offer convincing proofs. To be true, we know that the Japanese, in imi- tation of the German idea, thoroughly believe in preparation for any even tralHy. But the Japanese, unlike the Germans, have no foe close at hand, which brings added importance to the geographical feature of war dis cussion.
 The best speculation as to war, it seems to me, arises from the Siberian situation
 If Japan persists in pursuing a policy of territorial aggression there, a policy which Japan officially de ries, war. I repeat, is inevitable. That would be Q war with the Siber- ian Russians, perhaps not now. but some time in that future that the wonderful Russian, people look for ward to in keen anticipation when theirs shall become a great Demo cracy, even as great as our own.
 The Russian will never tolerate Japahese domination. '
 And so I suspect that the Japanese policy in Siberia is not one of ex- pansion, but that Japan purposes to maintain the army there until the Japanese business offensive can: an nounce it's victory that the valuable resources of the Maritime Provinces have fallen into the lap of the Mi kado.
 Need to Be Watchful
 While war talk has thus been sub iected to it's discounts, it would be ridiculous for any American to ai- vocate anything but the keenest un- derstanding of the Japanese policies. Since the Japanese have denied by methods the public statements of of ficials concerning policies, since they have said one thing and done quite another, it Is most assuredly incumbent upon this government not