Evening star., 1932-01-28
BY FRED HOGUE.


now confronted, how to regulate with
out resort to warfare the relations Of
the Occident with the Orient. Its Solu-
ton Is Of imperative Importance to the
peoples OF the Pacific area.
During the World War this area was
far removed from the scene of conflict;
but If the Orient and the Occident were
to clash IN the Pacific, as they have
often clashed on the eastern frontiers
of Europe, the coast of California would
be on the battle front
When Japan and China went to war
in 1894 the United States had not yet
achieved the distinction OF world power
of first importance. 1t was continen-
tai. but not a maritime power. The
western frontier extended only miles
into the waters of the Pacific. The
country was not obligated by treaty to
join in the preservation of the integrity
Of China.
Manifest destiny impelled the United
States into the Pacific. 1t is now both
an Oriental and Occidental power. 1t
has taken up the white mans burden"
and Is beginning to feel its weight.
Fact, Not Argument.
The peace of the Pacific area is
threatened by japanese military opera
tions in Manchuria. Whether they are
justified by existing conditions an in
ternational fact-finding commission is
: to decide. Whether there has been
violation Of the Nine Power Treaty will
thus resolve itself into a question Of
fact. not Of argument.
The sanctity Of treaties was once
maintained by armed force; but for
armed force has been substituted the
force Of public opinion. War pSy-
chology is well understood, but peace
psychology is still in the process of
formation.
Only those who indulge in an excess
Of altruism look for a generation that
carries the scars Of the World War to
diveSt Itself wholly Of war psychology.
Strong nations sign peace pacts, but
keep their armaments in reserve until
these pacts have been thoroughly
tested
But peace and the power OF peace
are not mere illusions. More tonnage
! was sunk by the Washington Confer
, ence than in all the naval battles Of the
: last hundred years. The psychology Of
! peace, the ideal Of a united and en-
lightened world opinion is the source
from which flow the hope the promise
and the guaranty Of the future peace Of
the world. Yet We must keep in mind
that the war psychology, while dimin-
ishing, is not yet extinct. Let US con-
slider how that psychology affects
Japan.
s Voice of the Orient.
Europe taught US war . and our
t1uest friend has always been our
sword Victory will come from
within, or glorious death from with
!, out"
am here expressing the voice of the
Orient speaking to the peoples of the
Orient the voice OF Okakura, a great
historian, patriot and psychologist of
Japan. speaking to the people of Japan.
Changes of form are too readily con-
, founded with changes of thought.
Where the japanese once went on
foot they now ride in trains: but they
, follow the same routes and those
routes lead to temples and shrines
where are still taught the old religions,
the old morality. That modern Japan
is great, one of the first among the
world powers, is not due to the inherent
greatness Of the Japanese as a people.
not to the wealth of the soil and the
SubSoI of Japan. but to the greatness
OF the truths in the form of symbols
and traditions they have received from
the past, cherished and preserved.
In one of his treatseS Okakura wrote
: Despite the barriers that seem to sep
arate the Orient from the Occident. all
human development is fundamentally
similar"
S Best Thought of Europe.
: In that reflection I find a deep un-
derstanding of the philosophy of his
tory. The greatness Of our own nation
is not based on any superiority of race.
It was not the best blood but the best
thought Of Europe that came to the
= eastern shores Of the two Americas
The political and religious refugees who
found sanctuary brought with them in
dependent thought, the seed of civil
and religious liberty that yielded
abundant harveSts
Only those who have delved deep into
the fact history of China and Japan
and studied the psychologist reactions
: of these two peoples can understand
what now is taking place in Manchuria
japanese psychology has not changed
: in 1000 years. During the last 10
years the material life of Japan has
been modified by contact with Occiden-
tai peoples but there hes been no
modification Of japanese thought and
Japanese psychology. The ideals of
: Japan are still the ideals of the Orient
The glory of Japan is the glory of Asia
The traditions of Japan are true Orien-
tai traditions.
: Japan has sent her sons to study the
religions and the traditions of the Oc-
cident; but to study these religions and
traditions is not to adopt them. The
5 Occident has taught the japanese how
to fight, not more valiantly, but more
effectively The machine gun of the
japanese soldier Is a weapon that orig
mated in the Occident; but the valor
; and patriotism of the man behind that
- 1ro, u.
imported from the West; it is the valor
!; of the ancient tribes and peoples of
Asia that carried them from the Yel-
: low Sea to the banks of the Danube
and the Rhine and established them
} for century during the Middle Ages
on the plains of Hungary.
Followed Occidental Models.
Japan, for half century, has been
defending Oriental traditions with Oc-
cidental weapons. Japan has formed
her commerce, her industry, her
finance. her transportation and her
methods of warfare after Occidental
models; but her morals, her religions,
: herr psychology and her traditions are
| still those of the Orient.
| The japanese people from the mem
bers of the imperial household to the
fisherman in his bark and the farmers
IN the rice paddleS, are proud OF their
distinction as an Asiatic power. They
form friendly relations with the peoples
CT Europe and the Americas, but they
are distinctly foreign relations.
The Japanese are proud of their
, intellectual heritage. Of their morals
and their traditions. dating back
, through so many centuries, and they
' have no desire to exchange that purely
, Asiatic culture for one imported from
/ the Occident, one they regard as dis
, tinctly inferior.
. How closely the japanese adhere to
, their Oriental culture, rejecting that
} Of the West, is disclosed in the follow
ing extracts from the notable work
of Okakura, THE Ideals of the Orient"