Evening star., 1926-11-16
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

The Emperor of Japan is reported
to be diving. His demise will mark no
change in imperial policies. for. being
mentally incapacitated. he has had no
part in the rule of that counEry since
1921, the actual rulership having been
taken over by the Prince Regent. who
will be the next Emperor. Neverthe-
less, the passing of imperialk title af-
fords landmark from which 20 meas
ure Japan's development III recent
decades and her present position
among the great powers of the mod
ern world.
Americans have been prone to look
upon Japan as a potential disuurber
of the peace in the Pacific Ocean, as a
rival Of our own trade and political
prestige, as possible aggtessor in
seizing the Philippine Islahds and
Hawaii. American jingoes t:ave pre-
dicted a Japanese base in Mexico and
naval attack upon our Pacific Coast.
On the other hand. how have the
Japanese looked upon the growing &
power of the United States a2d its in-
terests in the Orient? They know that
we outnumber them nearly 3 to
/ in population. and outclaSs them
10 to 1-or more-in f1nancial re
sources and productive efficiency.
Their 1ingoes are asking, with impress.
sive seriousness. what means the re-
ported "miItarism' Of America?
i Mr.. Merle Davis, general secretary
of the Institute of Pacific ocean Re.
lations. has just returned frOtn Japan.
and he brings back reports of that
cOuntry's financial depression and also
of her alarm over an alleged Amer
lean menace" according to Japanese
jingoes-a surprise to Americans.
This is what he tells us. quoting an
editor of one Of the great Japanese
newspa pers:
What ia the mea ming of Smerican
Defense day? Why has the franscon-
tinental air service been Developed 40
hurriedly? These and simSar aues-
tiOnS are repeatedly asked hs' leaders
of public opinion in Japan
ITO meet this changed spirit Of
America. our military clique" says
the Japanese editor. (which had lost
ground since the great war. is com
ing back into power The. demand
for a larger army and stronger navy
ia again rising. Ssiil worse,
suspicion and fear are being planted
yellow press and our pubic school
tea chers. The children are neing told
that they cannot trust Amefica; that
America offers Christianity;s teaching
brotherhood of man with one hand
and brutally shOveS us outt Of their
country with the other Our children
are being taught that Ameri;a is our
bitter enemy and that JaIs,n must
gird herself for life-and-death
struggle.
why is all this necessary? We
were good friends. with mutual trust
and respect. America hass nothing
that we want or could possibly take
away from her if we did waat 1t. The
Japanese dreams that we GOULD con.
quer America. You have twice the
manpower and 10 times Oursfinancial
and economic resources. B@sides all
this. YOU have close kinship With Eng
land. You are the side that g. forcing
this game. and we frankly$ ask for
what purpoSe?"
Perhaps the 1O.O0O,O 900 which the
United States sent to the relief Of
Japan in it's dire disaster Iiom the
earthquake three years agOcis taken
as proof" Of what energies we
are. Is that taught the children as
confirma ton Of our "enmitys? If the
United States has nothing c<veted by
the Japanese. just what possession or
japan is to be struggled for .Nhen the
United States and that cofntry are
"girded for a life-a nd death ssruggle?
Mr.. Merle Davis explain: further
that "Japan's hope is mainlyHn China.
and 1t is a common belief txn Japa NJ
that America is determined so thwart
her in what she considers he:' natural
rights in China-access TO :tne raw
products and markets"
II was the United Statess through
Commodore Perry. which. in 1858.
forced open Japa neee ports tf: the mar
kets, not only of America t3It of the
world. 1t was the Unit"'i States
which first declared the "osteh door
policy for China, guaranteeing not
natural rights of exploitation OF
that country by any otN.er. but
equality Of rights to China 'stfrade by
ali countries. Japan Is a greas nation;
China; with eight times tb.,t popula'
ton of Japan, Is also a great ssnd indie
pendent nation. and. accordtx.s to the
American view, no foreigSs nation