Evening star., 1926-11-16

possesses natural rights'' to Chinas
resources
Mr.. Davis argues. from the Japan
ese standpoint:
"Japan's old dream of dictatorship
of China is gone: what she now seeks
is an opportunity to help guide China s
destinies and to develop her resources.
! Japan's prosperity depends. to degree
that is difficult for America to under
stand, upon her Chinese neighbor.
Chaos in China means ruin for Japan.
The Japanese are convinced that for
anybody to seek to thwart her pur-
poses in what she considers her
natural rights in China is a mark of
enmity calling for war.
Il feel sure" SAYS Mr.. Davis, that
Japan would fight America or any
| combination of powers, If she were
convinced OF their determination to
deny her access to the raw products
and markets of Asia. for this would
he starvation for Japan. and she
would choose death by the sword to
death by the famine route"
1t is not contended that Mr.. Merle
Davis speaks with the authority Of
the Japanese government in this line
of bluster. and he hastens to relieve
American suspense when he adds as
surance Of Japanese confidence In the
many Of the Japanese leaders still
cling" Why should they not cling?
Has any nation been such friend
of Japan as the country of Perry?
| The open door" which is the
| foundation or America s. policies as to
China gives assura nee that Japan. as
we'll as all the rest Of the world. will
continue to have equal access to
| China's markets
There has been more or less talk uf
comparing Japans position. as 10
Asia. with the position of the United
| States in regard to our Monroe
Doctrine i'm protecting American
nations from cOlonizing and exploita-
tion by European powers. That. how
ever. is not a parallel. for Japan ia
not seeking to guard against Eu"npe's
aggression upon Asia. else she would
become the leader in the proposed
Asiatic League of Nations she is
not identified with that movement at
all-it is confined to Turkey. Afghani-
stan. Persia. China and Russia
tSiberia) Japan is a member Of the
| European League Of Nations. and II
| Is In direct opposition to the member
ma ations OF that Genevan League that
China is now attempting to break the
limitation upon her autonomy as 10
tariffs and extrateriitoriality Japan
has set up no "Asiatic Monroe
Doctrine" to protect the weaker
natural rights to China's raw
materials and markets
| The sovereign power Of reigninE
over the state Of Japan is inherited
by the Emperor. who holds In his
hands ALI the ramifying threads Of
| political life Of the country. In
theory. the emperOr's power is abso-
lutte. as we'll az sacred and inviolable.
In reality. he acts on the advice Of the
prime minister. and occasionally on
that Of the elder statesmen" Under
the constitution. however. 'he can do
| no wrong" In fact. the power ha
exercises is not greater than that Of
| the King Of England. but, owing 10
the Japanese psychology. his innu-
ence in the government Is far greater
and is predominant. In England.
whatever the King says Is credited In
| the prime minister: but in Japan,
though inspired by the prime min
| lister, ic credited to the Emperor's ini.
| tiative. and takes on a greater weight
and dignity.
/ Next to the Emperor. stands the
/ privy council OF 26 members. These
are the "elder statesmen" Its func-
tions are advisory only, hut carry
great weight. 1t considers treaties
! and important laws. 1t also passes
on the constitutionality Of laws, after
| the ma amer of our Supreme Court.
There Is no provision in the con
stitution for a cabinet. but all depart
ment ministers meet and form a cab
! met Of advice. The whole cabinet
takes no responsibility for the con-
duct of any one department minister.
The cabinet Is responsible directly tn
| the Fmperor-not to the Diet
The diet consists of two bodies. as
does our Congress. The lower house
initiates all legislation. but the En-
peror can force his will by threatening
dissolution.
While the Diet Is not In session.
| the Emperor may promulgate any de.
cree as law, and it Is enforced until
the next meeting of the Diet. II the
| Diet sees At. 1t may refuse to sane
tion the decree, which then ceases to
be law. But that does not .nece ssitat te
resignation of the cabinet, as Is the
custom in Europe.
Next Tuesday will be Japanese
anniversary. when the Emperor will
taste the first-fruits offered to his
ancestors. The reports Of the con.
dition of Emperor Yoshihito make II
probable that the observance will be
kept hv the successor.