The Washington times., 1921-10-17


from 40.7is.67T In 1891. Thus Il
has increased by lb.o0o,ooo In a
generation with . density now OF
$50 10 the square mile. BY com
parison. the population OF Belgium 10
| $40 per square mile, that OF Eng
land 664, and that OF Holland $50.
With its present resources and ac-
tivities at home Japan might easily
support a population double its
present number.
However. considering the actual
existing pressure, how far have the
Japanese people taken advantage OF
opportunities 10 emigratef
The total emigration TO date 20 all
countries has been about 500. 900.
Korea has been under Japanese con-
troll for nearly twenty years; there
are but ESQ 900 In Korea. They have
been active In Manchuria for the
same period. yet despite Japan's ex-
tensive' colonizing projects there, only
about 100000 Japanese have emil
grated TO Manchuria.
Since 1909 Japan has tried 10
coloniEe Formosa; but emigration TO
that tropical island has amounted
20 only 10000.
II is universally asserted In the Jap
anese press that Japanese cannot
settle In Siberia because OF the eli
mate. Japan's own northern Hokkaido
10 thinly settled. So at the outset we
meet the highly important fact that
Japanese as a race do not readily go
outside of very special climatic con-
ditions, either to the north or the
south. Yet to Judge by the assertions
of population pressure made by the
imperial expansionists. one would sup
pose that this island population would
L.. ,k, ..v.a sx,xa 80
of a bottle when the cork Is removed.
The Japanese cannot compete with
the population of Shantung. which is
developed so highly that II supports
in many places over 5000 persons a
square mile. Either because competi.
ton with the Chinese is too keen. or
because there Ia no room for the jap
anese to settle, or, chiefly, because set
tiers will go only when virtually guar
anteed q living by their government.
there has been no great emigration
from Japan into these regions.
A study. therefore,. Of population
movements during the last twenty
years does not bear out the argument
that the people of japan need imme-
diate release of their inner pressure.
This most fundamental human need
cannot be the direct and supporting
base Of Japan's imperialism.
Should Back Open Door.
She should be the strongest sup
porter of the open-door policy by the
side of the United States.
But is she a strong supporter?
Japanese imperial policy is not ex-
actly keeping the door open.
An example of the political ma.
neuvering of Japanese Industrial in
terests is shown in that part of the
twenty-one demands upon the Peking
government whereby railway conces-
sions in the Fukien sphere" would
carry Japanese influence into the
provinces Of Kiangsi. Hupei, and
Kwantung.
In the Hanyehping iron and coal
enterprise Japan had already an in
terest which was In the nature of
a mortgage, with a right to purchase
pigiron at certain rates. This was
TO be consolidated into a Japanese
controlled company. coupled with the
significant demand that outsiders
were not to be permitted to work
any mine in the neighborhood of
those owned by the Hanyehping
company, or to carry out any under
taking that might directly or indi.
rectly affect the interests of that
company without its consent. This
astonishing proposal sought to make
the Japanese interest in that com.
pany the arbiter of industrial enter.
prise In the middle Yangtse valley.
Just as the individual settler asks
government employment or support,
so the Japanese capitalist and indus.
trialist depends on his government
and political pull to get what he
wants. and to get It on terms that
shut out open competitors. Raw
materials can be secured by con.
tracing among private business firms
and individuals. Japanese policy,
| however, Is shaped to control them
by political influence and power, with
special local preferences.
That is why the people of Siberia
and China have been so deeply an.
tagonized.
Political control Of the resources of
the Asian continent-that is the refuge
Of the Japanese imperiaIists from
population pressure" Such control
breeds bitternesses wherever IL strikes.
The friends Of the japanese people
will doubt the value of this means,
even when applied to a small area. AS
the sphere Of its application expands,
more antagonism will be aroused
among the peoples of the continent.
Japan's industry and commerce can
thrive only on the good VIII or her
neighbors. but good will is the last
thing that can be secured by political
and military pressure. II her rulers
seek in good faith to provide for a
sound basis for the economic life OF
the people Of Japan they seem to &c
about II in the wrong way.
| Unfortunately. merely supplying the
needs Of the home population is not
the final purpose and aim of Japanese
imperialism. No one who reads the
Japanese press from day to day car
fail to he impressed with the manner
in which the widest imperialist am
billions are constantly set before the
people. Even political control Of the
natural resources OF n large portion OF
the continent Is not the final aim
that Is only to support the still greater
political power OF Japan.
Such terms as mastery of tn,
Pacific, the peace of the Far East
are terms which every day sugges
to the Japanese people imperial do
minion over others.
The so-called Roman peace implied
imperial power and domination. A
the last It brought Rome's ruin
What will be the end of the imperis