Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-08
Old Idea of infringement in
Far East Denied by Fugi-
mura at Geneva.
TAKES FLING AT POWERS
FOR UNDERHAND METHODS
Baron Says Own Nation Is Respon.
sible for Present Stability
of Manchuria.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

news. COpyFlgnL' 1916.
GENEVA, September 8.-Barcn Yo-
shiaki FugiInura, one of the Japanese
delegates to the League of Nations as
sembly, who has just arrived from ia
pan, has given the writer an important
authoritative declaration of Japan's Far
Eastern policy. This statement is par
ticularly interesting on the eve of the
Chinese Nationalist governments at
tempt to secure reelection to the League
Council, and thus insure prompt recog-
milton by most of the countries of the
world
Baron Fugimura is member of the
japanese House of Peers, former min
lister of communications and personal
friend of Premier Tanaka. He was
business man before he entered the po-
litical and diplomatic field, and conse-
quently uses somewhat palmer language
than is customary in Oriental diplomacy
Our fundamental policy" said the
baron. lis that Japan must ne Chinas
best friend and assist her in her present
Nationalist aspirations Whatever may
have been our policy in the past, it is
now generally recognized in Japan that
our best and only possible course must
be based on Chino-Japanese amity and
cooperation.
Infringement Denied.
Even the sternest members of our
military group have long since discard
ed the old idea of making any infringe
ment whatever on Chinas territorial
integrity. That is an outworn idea.
absolutely discredited among the
japanese people at the present time.
The prevalent, view in japan is that
China and Japan, in their own best
interests and the interests of the rest
of the world should go hand in hand
cause of peace and security in the Far
East A disunited Asia is as unfortunate
as disunited Europe. The greatest
obstacle to united Asia today is the
lack of cohesion and unity among the
Chinese themselves.
ITO bring about peace and stability
in China. we are willing and anxious
to do all we can. But not Japan alone,
but all the rest of the world should try
to help China establish stable gov
ernment Therefore. 1t is unfortunate
that some countries protesting to be
friends of China should sometimes at
tempt TO gain her favor by steps which
N the long run are likely to do her
no good
The problem is undoubtedly difficult
1t is to be feared nobody. not even the
Chinese, can predict what may happen
China q month
since / left Japan and already l feel
as if my knowledge of the Chinese
situation may be out of date.
Unified Control Seen.
II will say, however, that it is widely
feared in Japan that China may not yet
have succeeded in putting her house
in order. The Marking government
seems to have unified control, but ap-
pearances are sometimes deceptive The
balance of power in China is so nicely
and precariously adjusted that it may
at any moment bring forth new set
OF actors, playing new drama in d
new political setting.
Until these questions become clearer
it is almost impossible for Japan to
give formal recognition to the new
Nationalist government. Also the un-
reasonable manner in which this gov
ernment has recently declared abroga-
ton of Japans treaty with China must
be considered. This is nothing less than
an act of lawleSsneSs, unworthy OF a
modern state. Japan would be entirely
willing to negotiate revision OF the
treaty if approached in a conciliatory
and gentlemanly way. but what can we
do when China, under whatever pre-
text, treats our national treaty as a
scrap of paper?
LAS for Manchuria, our policy is clear
and we'll defined. Japan fought two
wars there Their object. in brief, was
to ward off the danger of encroachment
in regions adjacent TO our territory.
Manchuria is almost next door to Japan,
and it is impossible we should remain
indifferent when any great disturbance
threatens to break out in this region or
its immediate vicinity.
Gives Japan Credit.
Whatever theories may be, facts
show that Manchuria today is what
it is mainly because OF Japans presence
there. Remove japanese protection and
there would be no difference between
Manchuria and any other part OF China,
where life and property are still IN
secure.
Our interests however, are purely
economic. and we are willing to CO.
operate. not only with Chinese, but with
all other peoples, whether British, Amer
ican. French or German. in exploiting
the natural resources of the land.
Regarding the League OF Nations,
the Japanese people still are somewhat
| ignorant and indifferent. have fea-
son to believe. however, that the Japa-
nese government will henceforth In
| clude, as in this case, one man on its
delegation TO the Assembly who may be
| described as diplomatic and repre-
| sentative of the people 1t is hoped the
result will be to popularize the League
idea and the spirit of international CO.
| ti1y1 in Iannn"