Evening star., 1925-06-28

not set the world right: sincere, cour-
teous, well grounded, Illuminating ar
gumenS may
Doesn't Want the Philippines.
80 you are not going to seize the
Philippines or Hawaii?'
Viscount Kato's face took on look
of hearty amusement.
Ethics and prudence apart said
he, I'VE want neither archipelago, nor
ANYTHING else that is America s..
You have noted the proclamation
of certain politicians in Washington
that the world is to have new
Gibraltar"
Yes"
That it is to be in the Pacific?'
Yes"
THAT it is to be Hawaii"
Yes"
What do you think of it,"
Domestic matters in Japan leave us
no time to deal with domestic matters
in America" said the prime minister.
Officially, Japan never has been
worried by the movement of American
warships in the Pacific?"
why should there be any interna-
tional concern about the movement of
friendly warships anywhere?" asked
the Japanese statesman. And he add
ed: American warshipS in the Pa
cific, British warships in the Pacific,
Japanese warships in the Pacific
we consider them all symbols of civili-
zation and peace in the Pacific
Question OF Asiatic Alliances.
There is in America, I think. con-
siderable interest in Japan's relations
with Russia. and In speculationS re-
specting what is termed an Asian
bloc possibly inimical to the best re-
lations between Japan and the United
States"
"'Asian bloc" said Viscount Kato,
speaking with more than usual de-
liberation. 'is a phrase with no actual
or imaginable correlative in fact. 1t
is a disembodied phrase. 1t is one of
those phrases which float about the
intellectual world as tenuous mists
float about the physical world. Bloc
In the sense suggested implies some
kind of affinity, of homogeneity. Of
structural likeness, as a binding sub
stance among the component parts.
There is no such quality or substance
for drawing or holding together an
Asian bloc of the sort suggested in
the theory of an Asian aggregation of
power opposed to the United States.
Japan is individual. Her psychol-
apart from the mainland of Asia. We
are as different from the Chinese as
we are from the Americans or the
British, and who has detected any
identity between the Russians and the
Japanese? If we try to establish
neighborly relations with China and
with Russia, as we always are trying
to do, it is not because our hearts
have turned away from our occidental
friends in the Pacific; it is because
we believe in international amity as
a general objective of statesmanship
Orientation' is a stock word in the
vocabulary of international politics.
We hear of ordinations this way and
that. If 'orientation' means a tend
ency toward international reconcilia-
ton, Japan wishes to orient in all
directions.
Our point of view is illustrated by
the position of England, which looks
east and west. English intercourse,
political, social and economic, with the
continent of Europe-her friendship
with the European nations-does not
detach her from the Atlantic nor
lessen her desire for Atlantic friend
ships. Japan has inevitable relations
with her neighbors of the Asiatic
mainland. She is on good terms with
China as result Of mutual considera-
ton. Urgent territorial, economic and
social exigencies required a resump-
ton of diplomatic relations with Soviet
Russia, though Japan has no SYM
pathy with sovietism as political and
social system and will permit no COM
munist propaganda in this country. l
cannot state too strongly that our con-
ciliatory and constructive policy
toward the orient entails no reverse
policy toward the Occident
America, particularly, is not a
country Japan would choose to alien
ate. Aside from our historical, cul-
tural and aspirational relationships,
and aside from our correlation to the
problems of world society-to all of
which Japan attaches Importance
the United States is of immense con-
Germ to US commercially and finan-
cially. She is our best customer-buys
annually more than $3.50, 900 900 worth
or our silk alone. Do you think we are
likely, In sport or malice, to begin
hurting shrapnel or high explosive
shells at that market? We need Amer
lean capital and are getting it. Could
we AFFORD to lose the confidence of
American wealth? On the other hand,
who can spend day in Japan without
appreciating Japans commercial value
TO the United States? American ma
terials and manufactures form the
foundation of our life. Who but a
madman. American or Japanese.
would dream of thrusting a sword
through this interlacement?"
Cooperation by the Nations.
You do not believe in international
blocs?"
Il believe in a single human sodaI.
ity."
in the League of Nations?"
In the master idea of the League
of Nations-that of an inquiring, rea-
soning, justice-seeking world, inflexibly
bent upon settling its questions and
directing it's affairs by moral means
and not by violence. True, the league
takes cogniZance of matters beyond
the range of Japanese interest and
knowledge. Our people, for example.
do not know what or where Riga is,
But they understand the grand aim
OF the league-to promote the health.
prosperity and peace of the world
and they are wholeheartedly for that
aim
You are a nationalist"
"Al Japanese are nationalists, and
intense nationalists, as is the wont of
island peoples
you do not believe in a super.
state?"
No. But I believe in independent
states working together honestly and
generously for the common veal. Such
work. of course. necessitates clear and
candid statements of national points
or view, and no statement of this
kind should be taken as offensive or
as implying a recourse in any circum-
stances to force majeure. In other
words, every state should be allowed
to put forward it's case as fully and
powerfully as possible, without in
curing suspicion of a hidden purpose